A "highly dangerous" rapist, who was freed after a police bungle, was sentenced to life today for striking again in a terrifying copycat graveyard attack, this time on a pregnant woman who subsequently lost her unborn child.
James Isted, 27, must serve a minimum of nine years custody for twice pouncing on lone women in the graveyard of All Saints Church, Orpington after following his victims, aged seventeen and twenty-seven from behind.
He was arrested after the first rape of the teenager, who he struck over the head and beat, but was not charged and was free when he threatened his second victim with a knife and raped her in the same location twenty months later.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The MPS acknowledges that in this case we made mistakes and we have apologised to the victim of the second offence.
"Had certain actions been taken earlier, a second offence may have been prevented."
The Met refused to say what mistakes had been made because an internal enquiry is taking place, but it is believed a mobile phone was not properly examined when it was seized after the first rape.
Married father-of-two Isted, of Tintagel Road, Orpington was convicted at Croydon Crown Court of two counts of rape and robbery against the women on September 30, 2011 and May 7, last year.
The construction worker was also convicted of assault by penetration in relation to the second victim and assaulting PC Steve Patterson, with intent to resist arrest, leaving the officer with a nasty cut to his hand.
Both attacks occurred in Church Hill, the first at 2.40am when the lone teen was struck and dragged into the deserted graveyard.
She was subjected to a harrowing and lengthy ordeal and Isted left with her handbag, which contained a mobile phone and other personal items.
"She was jumped on from behind and struck," explained prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Polnay. "She says her life has been destroyed by this."
The court heard the teen immediately moved out of the area and plans to emigrate to the United States as a result of being raped.
"She was walking home in the dead of night, vulnerable victim," added Mr. Polnay. "It is also an aggravating feature that the rapes took place in a graveyard, heightening the fear and the ordeal."
The prosecutor submitted the location of the rapes was "grossly offensive" and insulting to the families of the deceased.
He was arrested a few days later on October 4, but was bailed pending further enquiries and twenty months later, after being told by police there would be no further action, raped his second victim at 1.30pm.
A probation officer, who interviewed Isted after he was convicted, wrote: "Emboldened by the fact the police did not charge him for the first offence he carried out the second offence, believing he would not be detected."
He threatened her with a Stanley knife he armed himself with after parking his work van.
"He knew she was pregnant at the time, but continued to rape her," explained Mr. Polnay. "She told him she was pregnant.
"A Stanley knife was used and not only did she see it, he used it to cut parts of her clothing and threatened to cut her hair, being paranoid about DNA."
This time a witness reported the audacious daylight attack and Isted was arrested after a short police chase in possession of the victim's bank card and jewellery, including her engagement ring and another ring.
"Very clearly you are a very dangerous man," the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Isted," who was also described by the probation service as: "A highly dangerous individual capable of causing significant harm."
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