This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25370028
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hampstead Heath sex attacker Lee Cyrus jailed for life | Hampstead Heath sex attacker Lee Cyrus jailed for life |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man convicted of a series of sex attacks in north London while on the run from prison has been jailed for life. | A man convicted of a series of sex attacks in north London while on the run from prison has been jailed for life. |
| Lee Cyrus, 48, from Preston, absconded from North Sea Camp open prison in Boston on 9 October last year. | Lee Cyrus, 48, from Preston, absconded from North Sea Camp open prison in Boston on 9 October last year. |
| He carried out 11 attacks, targeting women in the Hampstead Heath area, before being caught two months later. | He carried out 11 attacks, targeting women in the Hampstead Heath area, before being caught two months later. |
| Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, was ordered to serve a minimum of 11 years in prison, at Southwark Crown Court. | Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, was ordered to serve a minimum of 11 years in prison, at Southwark Crown Court. |
| He was found guilty of offences including indecent exposure, robbery and wounding with intent. | He was found guilty of offences including indecent exposure, robbery and wounding with intent. |
| Cyrus stalked and terrorised women, the Metropolitan Police said. On many occasions he was armed with a knife and wore a black balaclava. | Cyrus stalked and terrorised women, the Metropolitan Police said. On many occasions he was armed with a knife and wore a black balaclava. |
| 'Horrific attacks' | 'Horrific attacks' |
| The Met described Cyrus as a forensically aware "predator" who relied on the "utmost cowardly approach in selecting victims", picking lone women in open spaces or in their homes. | The Met described Cyrus as a forensically aware "predator" who relied on the "utmost cowardly approach in selecting victims", picking lone women in open spaces or in their homes. |
| Acting Det Supt Raffaele D'Orsi said: "It will take a significant length of time for the victims who suffered at the hands of Lee Cyrus to come to terms with the horrific attacks he committed on them." | Acting Det Supt Raffaele D'Orsi said: "It will take a significant length of time for the victims who suffered at the hands of Lee Cyrus to come to terms with the horrific attacks he committed on them." |
| Among his offences, Cyrus indecently exposed himself to a 53-year-old woman and a 62-year-old woman at Boston Cemetery, Lincolnshire, in September 2012 while still a serving prisoner on day release. | Among his offences, Cyrus indecently exposed himself to a 53-year-old woman and a 62-year-old woman at Boston Cemetery, Lincolnshire, in September 2012 while still a serving prisoner on day release. |
| Several crimes of indecent exposure took place in the Hampstead Heath within weeks of him going on the run, the court was told. | Several crimes of indecent exposure took place in the Hampstead Heath within weeks of him going on the run, the court was told. |
| The offences also increased in seriousness, graduating to violent attacks on elderly women alone in their own homes. | The offences also increased in seriousness, graduating to violent attacks on elderly women alone in their own homes. |
| Cyrus was also convicted of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm in November 2012. In one of these assaults, Cyrus hit a 61-year-old woman with a metal bar across the face. |