Rapist 'lifer' helps to convict paedophile

In a hugely challenging case CPS London prosecutors won a conviction against a paedophile - with the help of the evidence of a serial rapist, jailed for life.

The rapist, serving his sentence in a secure mental institution, was a victim - one of five members of the man's family, abused by the defendant over a period of 35 years.

All the victims molested during their childhood had learning difficulties and suffered social functioning impairment.

The main complainant grew up to become a sex offender himself, convicted at the Old Bailey in 1993 for a series of rapes. His cousin - another victim - was an alcoholic with a history of mental illness.

Of the five male and female victims three were provided with witness intermediaries to enable them give evidence during the 60-year-old defendant's trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, left. 

Their testimonies helped to convict the man, who was found guilty of 19 of the 23 counts, ranging from gross indecency to rape. He was jailed for 15 years in October.

"Normally, we wouldn't have considered relying on a convicted serial rapist to give evidence," explained Crown Advocate Paul Lodato, who authorised charges and was the reviewing lawyer in the case.

"In this case, however, his account was partially supported by evidence provided by the defendant's wife who was initially treated as a suspect."

Paul, left, from the Barking and Dagenham Team, Snaresbrook District, added: "The jury may well have concluded that the ordeal he suffered as a child may have played a part in turning him into a monster in later life."

Crown Advocate Tunde Alabi, a member of CPS London's Central Advocacy Unit, acted as junior counsel in the three-week trial.

In preparation he spent a week in Durham, North East England, looking through 10 years of prison records relating to the victim-turned-rapist.