A convicted rapist who attacked three women in public parks after serving time for a previous sexual assault has been jailed for life.

Daniel Elliott, 24, was convicted of two counts of rape, one of attempted rape, one count of digital penetration and one count of sexual touching last month, and on Friday was handed the sentence.

During his trial at Croydon Crown Court, the jury heard how he stalked and attacked a Polish woman in her 20s as she walked through Mellows Park, Wallington in August last year.

He grabbed her from behind and assaulted her before she was able to break free and escape.

A month later Elliott, of Rosewell Close, Anerley, attacked a young couple on Church Path, Beddington. Threatening them with pepper spray he pinned down the 16-year-old girl and raped her.

In November he struck again in a similar manner, targeting a teenage couple in Grove Park Carshalton. He punched the 17-year-old boy in the face then dragged him to the ground and threatened he would stab him. He then raped the 15-year-old girl.

DNA samples taken from the scene matched Elliott, who was on the sex offender register after his previous conviction of rape in 2010.

In 2010 Elliott admitted raping a 19-year-old Japanese student who had only been in the UK for two days.

Detective Inspector Keith Ward of the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Elliott denied the offences but the jury saw through this. These were planned, targeted and violent stranger rapes. Elliott is clearly an extremely ruthless, predatory and dangerous man.

"This prosecution would not have been possible without the courage of the victims who were willing to support proceedings. The physical and emotional impact on them of the abhorrent actions of Elliott are impossible to quantify.

"The victims have been subjected to a nightmare of unimaginable proportions and I praise them for their exceptional bravery. I hope that the conviction and today's sentence will offer them some comfort. Our thoughts are very much with them at this time.

"I am very pleased that Elliott will be off the streets for such a long time. He is a danger to the public and the sentence the judge has handed down that fits the horrific crimes he committed."