An Iranian political refugee who had been granted British citizenship has been jailed for life

BBC News:

A sex attacker who targeted foreign women searching for work has been jailed for life.

Saeied Negad, 38, of south-east London raped a Congolese woman who applied for a job as his housekeeper in 2005.

Six years earlier he sexually assaulted a Czech student who had responded to another job advertisement.

Old Bailey Judge Richard Hawkins said he "laid a trap" for vulnerable women, police believe there are other victims who never came forward.

Bus driver Negad, of Eltham, was told he must serve at least six years before applying for parole.

The judge told him he presented a "significant risk to vulnerable women in our society".

His first victim had answered an advertisement for a job at a pizza shop in Seven Sisters, north London.

But the 23-year-old ended up being locked into his premises and indecently assaulted in what the judge described as a "frightening experience".

Six years later, in August 2005, he raped a 24-year-old woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo three times at his home in Eltham, after telling her she could have free accommodation if she cooked and cleaned for him.

The court heard he was violent, and told her no-one would hear her screams.

When she contacted police, they noted similarities with the other, unsolved, attack and checked the DNA profiles from both - they matched. Nejad was later arrested.

Det Insp Paul Meaden added: "This predatory man has been convicted for carrying out serious sexual offences targeting vulnerable women who were, by virtue of their immigration status, isolated in the community.

"I have no doubt that there will be other women who have not yet found the courage to contact police to report similar offences. I would encourage them to come forward."

Nejad, an Iranian political refugee who had been granted British citizenship, had been convicted at an earlier hearing. His defence lawyer said he had "misread signals".

But the judge told him he would serve a minimum of six years before he could apply for parole.

He added: "But the parole board can only release you if they are satisfied they can do so."

Rapist bus driver jailed