A serial rapist who dragged a woman into his car and attacked her in Forest Gate has been sentenced to at least 11 years in jail.

Sunny Islam, 23, targeted his prey as she walked alone in Eleanor Road in July last year.

He got out of his car and pulled her into the vehicle before raping her, a court heard.

She made her escape after breaking a window.

Islam, of Salisbury Avenue, Barking, was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on August 11 of seven counts of rape, one count of assault, and one count of kidnapping following a trial.

He reappeared at the court for sentencing on January 25, where he was ordered to serve an indeterminate term in prison for public protection. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 11 years.

Islam was also jailed for eight years for the assault and an additional eight years for kidnapping. All terms are to run concurrently.

The court heard the offences took place between July and September last year - with his youngest victim being 15 at the time.

Police were first alerted to a series of assaults following the kidnap and rape of a woman in Barking in September.

The court heard Islam grabbed her at knifepoint, drove her to a secluded road, and raped her. After her escape, DNA taken from the woman led officers to a further victim from east London.

She had been working as a sex worker and had been picked up by Islam some time between September and October 2010.

After she assisted police in their investigation, officers searched for similar incidents already being investigated in the surrounding area.

This led them to the attack in Forest Gate, and another rape of a sex worker in east London - both in July last year.