Row over freed rapist

A row erupted today over a rapist who was allowed out of jail early only to commit another sex attack.

He had been jailed for 15 years for the robbery and rape of a Polish tourist. That sentence was reduced to 10 years on appeal and he was released after serving a little less than seven. Within four months Godfrey attacked a 21-year-old woman who was waiting at a bus stop in Kenton Road, Wembley.

Godfrey frogmarched his victim to a secluded area and subjected her to sexual attacks before stealing her bag and phone. The assault was almost a carbon copy of the one he was jailed for.

The Polish woman was also attacked in Wembley. She had been travelling home and had accidentally got on the wrong bus. When she realised her mistake Godfrey, who had befriended her, offered to walk her home before attacking her.

The Crown Prosecution Service file on the case described how Godfrey placed his left arm over her mouth to stop her screaming and pulled her down with his right before biting her head and shouting at her to shut up, calling her a "f***ing white bitch".

On the similarity of the attacks, a spokesman for the CPS said today Godfrey also obtained personal details from both women, threatening to injure them if they went to the police. Rape victim support workers said they were shocked to hear Godfrey had been let out early.

Sema Kiamil, of Victim Support, said: "Godfrey should have been electronically tagged and kept under close watch for the rest of his life. For him to be released having served just seven years shows that something, obviously, went very wrong."

A spokeswoman for Rape Crisis said someone with Godfrey's violent past should have served his full sentence. She said: "It is simply not good enough to let them out and hope they don't re-offend. You cannot afford to take that risk."

Godfrey has a history of sex offences. He was convicted of indecent assault in August 1994.

In 1997 he was accused of raping another woman but was not convicted. Then, in August that year, he attacked the Polish tourist. He was arrested almost immediately and jailed and was released in September last year.

All prisoners who have not been given a life sentence are released, irrespective of whether they pose a threat, after two thirds of their term. If staff had considered Godfrey fully rehabilitated he could have got out after only five years.

Godfrey, of Arlington Road, Camden, attacked the 21-yearold this January and was traced through DNA. He pleaded guilty to robbery, sexual assault, attempted rape and kidnap at Harrow Crown Court in September. He was sentenced to life imprisonment this month.

A police spokesman said the conviction was partly due to the victim's "undoubted courage".