Suspected rapist who abducted two women 'threatened to kill builder' who came to victims' rescue

First victim believed to be pregnant

A suspected rapist who abducted two women threatened to kill a builder when he helped them escape.

Police are hunting for the attacker who they say is a danger to women and who has a distinctive tattoo of the name “Bobbie” on his stomach.

Two women, both aged in their 20s, were snatched separately from streets in north London on Thursday in what detectives believe were random but linked attacks.

The first victim, who is thought to be pregnant, was abducted from a street in Chingford at about 12.30am, while the second woman was taken from Edgware at about 12.15pm.

The suspect drove the women to a hotel in Watford and attempted to book a room at about 1pm but left when there weren’t any available.

The women managed to escape in Osborne Road, Watford, at about 2.30pm.

The attacker was seen dragging one of the victims by the hair after she managed to flee.

She jumped out of a silver or grey Ford S-Max and screamed for help, before builders who were working nearby rushed to her aid.

The boss of construction company Green Contractors Ltd, who wished only to be named as Alex, said the attacker threatened to kill one of his employees after he came to the women’s rescue.

Two members of his staff were crossing Osborne Road, where they were working, when the first woman to be kidnapped managed to jump out of the car.

Metropolitan Police releases images of suspect's silver or grey Ford S-Max after two women in their 20s were abducted and raped in north London on 25 April 2019. (Metropolitan Police)

Alex said: “He went after her really pulling her by the hair, when the girl started to scream ‘help, help, help’.

“One of my workers went towards the victim and shouted ‘leave it, leave it’ and punched the perpetrator. He released the girl and started to get into a fighting position to fight back to the worker.”

Other builders came to help their colleague, and the woman kidnapped first managed to hit the suspected rapist over the head with a vodka bottle.

The suspect then fled, telling the women’s rescuer: “My friend, you’re dead.”

CCTV image showing suspect in Watford (Metropolitan Police)

Alex, who believes one of the victims was Jewish, added: “He was very aggressive, they thought it was some kind of a domestic row.

“I’m very shocked how an adult can be dragged into a car like that.”

A worker at a Top Build shop, which the first victim ran into, told The Times the woman was pregnant.

Detectives have released CCTV images of the suspect, who is a white man of muscular build, in his late 20s or early 30s, with a bald head or shaved blond hair and a light-coloured short beard.

The car he was driving is believed to be a silver or grey Ford S-Max people carrier, with false registration plates.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rape but police said the hunt for the rapist continues.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0208 785 8244 or 999 quoting CAD 3041/25Apr, or tweet @MetCC and or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can find help via the NHS. Rape Crisis offers specialist support for women and girls; and the The Survivors’ Trust supports people of any gender