Terror reign of cab rapist

A minicab rapist targeted drunken women trying to get home after a night out, a court heard today.

For four years Faisal Malik, 36, cruised the streets of London looking for victims.

He carefully chose lone women who looked "the worse for wear" and often struck in the run-up to Christmas when the party season was in full swing.

Malik had a plausible manner and always drove a smart people carrier to allay suspicion. But once trapped in the car, he used "fear and intimidation" to subdue his victims.

Today he faces a long jail sentence after being found guilty of three attacks. But police fear he may have carried out many more rapes.

Malik, of Slough, is married with children and owned his own minicab firm in Twickenham.

Pc Fae Washington said: "This man was trawling central London looking for women. Lone girls were deliberately targeted, often when they got separated from friends." Malik's first known victim, a student, was attacked in December 2000. She had enjoyed an evening out in Vauxhall but had lost her friends.

Malik drove her almost to her home in Barnes before turning into an alley, locking the doors and attacking her. Nearly a year later his second victim, also a student aged 21, was picked up near Piccadilly Circus after spending the evening in Soho with friends.

He set off to drive her home to Lewisham but on the way she fell asleep. When she woke up he had parked in an alley in Streatham.

She too was raped but managed to scramble clear of the car and ran off.

The woman left property including credit cards and a scarf in Malik's people carrier.

A week later he rang her at home saying he had her property and could he return it. The items were posted to her a few days later. Detectives linked both cases through DNA. But Malik had never been in trouble before and was not on the police database.

Despite an appeal on Crimewatch the investigation had got nowhere until Malik attacked again in December last year.

Malik raped an Hungarian au pair with whom he had a passing friendship at her west London home. This victim was able to identify him.

"This was the key to the whole series of rapes," said Detective Inspector Andy Perrott, adding: "Once Malik had DNA taken from him for the third attack he was quickly linked to the other offences."

Malik was convicted of the three rapes at Kingston Crown Court in June and was being sentenced today.

Pc Washington said: "Young women trusted him because he was plausible. He wasn't driving an old banger but a smart large people carrier. He always used the same methods, he used the same words as he attacked them and called them by their first names."

She said that Malik may have carried out more rapes. "It is possible that these girls were the brave ones who have come forward."