A CYPRIOT serial rapist brutally attacked a string of young women, dragging them kicking and screaming off well-lit streets as they walked home, a London court heard this week.
Petros Anthia, 35, allegedly struck at night as his victims, most of whom were in their late teens or early 20’s, walked home after nights out.
The powerfully built six-foot Greek Cypriot stalked his victims using trees and bushes as cover, the court was told.
All were grabbed around the neck from behind, and in six cases he dragged the terrified women to secluded spots where he raped them, said Miranda Moore, QC, prosecuting.
She told St Albans Crown Court: “These were busy roads, often bus routes that were well-lit. This isn’t a case of women taking a risk by walking down dark alleys in seedy neighbourhoods. These are nice residential roads and nice parks.”
She told the jury, who will be taken to view the scene of the attacks, “you will be struck by the fact that it is a relatively short distance to what might be seen as the help of passing motorists.”
She said the attacks had a number of similar features, “including strangulation around the neck and being pulled backwards, being dragged and raped from behind. Enjoyment was discussed. This man wanted the women to say they were enjoying what was happening. A number of ladies will tell you the man had a foreign accent.”
Many of the victims were also anally raped.
In two cases, the defendant’s DNA was left on the victim. Moore added, “gloves were another feature. A number of the victims speak of the attacker wearing gloves.” Anthia has a deficiency to one of his hands.
“It may well be he wore gloves so that it was not spotted because it is quite distinctive. He asked two of the victims to spit on his hands when he was attacking them.”
She said the attacks began in Enfield, north London on January 16, 2003 when a 22-year-old woman was raped.
The next victim, a 19-year-old, was raped in East Barnet, four months later, after she was dragged into the grounds of a mansion block.
In December, the rapist struck again attacking a 35-year-old in Arnos Park in New Southgate. The woman was abducted and taken down a track before being raped in woods next to a stream.
A month later the suspect targetted a 23-year-old in Winchmore Hill, lifting her off her feet and carrying her some distance into the park before carrying out his sex attack, the court heard.
The final London rape occurred just yards from the December attack when a 27-year-old was assaulted.
The attacker would cover his face and often tried to disguise his voice.
Moore said, “the attacker waited for his victims, women going home who had decided to save money and walk rather than get a taxi. He was on the prowl stalking them. He would choose areas which provided them with cover and protection.”
As well as DNA, police found Anthia’s footprint at the scene of one attack and have matched microscopic particles from his clothing to the scene.
CCTV footage of St Albans town centre also shows Anthia searching for victims.
Moore said, “his van was caught on CCTV stalking in the town centre looking for a victim. It’s pictured going up and down the street, doing U-turns and three point turns waiting for someone to come out. Someone on their own so he could attack.”
The first DNA clue was found on April 1, 2004 after a 19-year-old woman was raped in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, but Anthia was able to rape a 20-year-old two days later and assault a 19- year-old woman before police tracked him down.
Moore told the jury, “you’re going to hear evidence from the nine victims. Some escaped, some were raped and brutalised and beaten. All or most have been terrified and some are still deeply affected.”
Anthia, who moved to Haringey, North London, in 1998 from Larnaca and worked as a builder, denies 10 counts of rape, three counts of assault with intent to commit buggery, one of indecent assault and one of actual bodily harm.
