A "DANGEROUS sexual predator" from the North-East who raped eight women and girls prowled areas around the M25 in his hunt for victims, a court was told yesterday.

The first victim of former railway worker Antoni Imiela, originally from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was ten when she was snatched from outside a youth centre in Ashford, Kent, a jury heard.

The 49-year-old went on to target eight other victims in attacks across the South-East and the Midlands, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

After one attack, in which he bound his victim's hands, he called the woman's mother on her mobile phone and bragged of what he had done, said Mark Dennis, prosecuting.

Five days later he attacked another woman, telling her: "I'm not going to hurt you physically. This will just leave you emotionally scarred."

Mr Imiela, from Appledore, near Ashford, denies nine counts of rape against three girls under 16 and five women in 2001 and 2002. One of the women was allegedly raped twice.

He also denies the kidnap, indecent assault and attempted rape of a ten-year-old girl in Birmingham in 2002.

Mr Dennis said that the defendant targeted lone females.

"He was not an opportunist who acted on the spur of the moment," said Mr Dennis. "He was someone who went long distances for his victims.

"His method of attack was generally to take the victim by surprise, approaching them from behind and grabbing the victim by the head or neck, then leading them into undergrowth."

Mr Dennis said that Mr Imiela would use the M25 and M20 to reach areas where he would "prowl" for victims.

The breakthrough for police came after one victim helped police compile a CD fit, the court heard. Officers later went to his home and took a DNA swab which allegedly matched samples gathered from some of the crime scenes.

The case continues.