A MAN accused of robbing lone women at knife point and raping one of them may have had evidence planted on him by police, a court heard.

Summing up his case, Abbas Lakhar QC, defending, told jurors that it was possible a blood-stained knife was planted on Donovan Smith when he was arrested in May this year.

He admitted carrying a 23cm blade at the time but said he was using it to make jerk chicken and that it was swapped for another knife.

Smith, 43, a chef, of Hungerdown, Chingford, is accused of going on a robbing spree, threatening the alleged victims with a machete and raping one of them twice in an alleyway.

Mr Lakhar added although six witnesses identified Smith in separate identity parades, there was still a chance they were mistaken.

Addressing the jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court today, he said: “This is a case of mistaken identity.

“I suspect at least some of you have said it's impossible they all could have made the same mistake but we've proved to you in the most graphic way that such a mistake is possible.”

Two police officers mistook Smith for two other men when looking at images of him on an internal website, Mr Lakhar said.

He also said evidence apparently showing Smith's Oyster card being used in the locations where each attack took place could be unreliable.

Mr Lakhar said: “The witness from Transport for London has said you cannot rely on the time or location of swiping.

“At the heart of the prosecution's allegation is that there's a method here and it's the same person doing it.

“That central part of their case is not borne out by the evidence.”

Smith allegedly followed his victims off buses in the early hours of the morning and forced them to hand over valuables.

Mobile phones belonging to those who were robbed were found in Smith's house and he admitted to being the owner of the machete believed to have been used to threaten victims, jurors were told.

He denies 23 charges against 11 alleged victims, including a 45-year-old Polish nun, in Chingford, Walthamstow and parts of Hackney in March and May this year.

Beginning his summing up, Judge Peter Birts urged jurors not to be swayed by emotion or sympathy because of the seriousness of the offences.

The jury will be sent out tomorrow.