A university student who was also captain of his football team has been jailed for raping sex workers

Ashley Mitton, 24, of Violet Road in Walthamstow, targeted multiple women, inviting them into his car before driving them to secluded areas and attacking them.

Mitton drove to Romford Road in Forest Gate and asked a 30-year-old prostitute to get into his car on March 9, 2013.

He drove his victim to nearby Disraeli Road before threatening her with a screwdriver then raping her repeatedly in the car.

The ordeal only stopped when Mitton was disturbed by another car.

Another attack happened in Ilford Lane, Ilford, on June 15, 2013.

Mitton approached a sex worker, aged 26, and asked her into his car before driving to nearby St Luke's Passage where he threatened and raped the victim.

She managed to run away from the car and alert a passing motorist who called police and gave them a registration number for the car Mitton was driving.

Officers traced Mitton's address to Walthamstow and he was arrested.

Following an investigation using both forensics, mobile phone analysis and number plate recognition software, officers managed to build a case against Mitton.

While he was awaiting trial, his home address was searched and evidence identifying another sex worker was found.

Ashley Mitton from Walthamstow has been jailed for 15 years

She was located in 2014 where she reported a violent robbery.

The offence took place in Lea Bridge Road in April 2012.

Mitton approached the woman before producing a sharp-edged item and robbing the victim of her bag.

Detective Constable John Buck, of the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, led the investigation.

He said: "Ashley Mitton was a university student and captain of the football team, but under that seemingly normal exterior was a very dangerous young man who preyed on vulnerable women.

"His conviction has been the result of a detailed and painstaking police operation, the outcome of which unquestionably proved his guilt.

"Mitton targeted sex workers to carry out his horrific crimes, women who are in a very vulnerable situation.

"He had the extremely misguided belief that they would not be believed because they were sex workers.

"I would like to thank all the victims for having the courage to come forward and put their trust in the police to investigate their claims.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have been attacked by Mitton to come forward and speak to police.” 

Mitton was found guilty on September 19 of six offences, including four counts of rape, one count of possession of an offensive weapon and one count of robbery.

He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, March 16.

Police have not revealed the name of his university.

Anyone who has any information should contact their local police station on 101 but always ring 999 in an emergency.