'Audacious Predator' Caged For Terrifying Late-Night Rape Bid

A wannabe rapist, who kicked a woman's front door off it's hinges after following her home from a night bus, has been locked-up for ten years.

Shane Lynch, 25, (pictured) of Aviary Close, Canning Town, is described by police as a: “predatory, audacious sexual offender.”

He demanded to know where the 26 year-old victim was during a terrifying face-to-face confrontation with her mother, then after finding her tried to pull off the young woman's tights and dress.

She was only saved when her mother tried to pull him off as their landlady screamed that she was calling the police.

In the early hours of Friday June 14, last year the victim was travelling home after a night out with friends.

Lynch approached her as she waited for a night bus to travel from Romford to Canning Town, east London and began chatting to her during the journey.

He asked to walk her home several times but she declined his offer, leaving him in Hayday Road.

She carried on walking to her house and was preparing a snack when she heard the front door being kicked open.

Terrified, she hid in the kitchen while Lynch hunted for her upstairs.

He confronted the victim's mother, demanding to know where she was.

He then came back downstairs and found the victim cowering in fear.

Lynch immediately attacked her, pulling her to the floor and trying to tear off her dress and tights.

He told her he wanted to have sex with her and ignored her pleas for help.

The victim's mother came downstairs and attempted to drag Lynch off her daughter, but was assaulted in the process, suffering minor injuries.

However, on being told the police were being called by the victim's landlady, Lynch finally made off after throwing a suitcase at the women.

He was arrested on the next day and claimed in a police interview that the victim had stolen his phone and he was trying to retrieve it.

He admitted assaulting the victim's mother, but claimed it was self-defence.

He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of attempted rape, having already admitted an unrelated charge of wounding, with intent, on another victim on January 25 in Newham Way, Canning Town.

He received seven years for the attempted rape, plus three years for the GBH charge.

Detective Constable Yvonne Rhoden, MBE, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim and the other female occupants of her home.

“I hope this conviction goes some way to restoring her peace of mind in the future.

"Lynch is a predatory, audacious sexual offender who, but for the brave actions of the victim's mother, would have carried out a violent rape.

"He has posed a real danger to lone females using the public transport system and we would appeal for members of the public to come forward with any information on similar offences."

Police can be contacted on 101. In an emergency always dial 999.