A predator behind a spate of "terrifying" late-night sex attacks was caught when officers on patrol spotted his distinctive clothes.

Abid Khanzada, of Stanhope Street near Mornington Crescent, was linked to the sexual assaults of five women, mostly aged in their 20s.

The 27-year-old approached lone women on the street in the Euston area before sexually assaulting them between January 15 and February 21 this year.

In one attack he pushed his victim to the floor before assaulting her.

In another he pinned the victim to her front door and assaulted her, only stopping when he was challenged by a member of public, and ran off.

Police trawled hours of CCTV footage from different locations and in the early hours of February 25, officers on patrol spotted a man wearing the same clothes that many victims described the suspect wearing – black trousers, a blue jacket and distinctive white trainers - and matching the physical description.

Officers swooped in to arrest him and took him into custody.

He responded only with “no comment” during his interview.

Khanzada was charged with four offences of sexual assault and one of digital penetration.

He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on June 5 to four counts of sexual assault. At the same court he pleaded guilty to sexual assault by penetration ahead of trial.

He was jailed for three years on September 13.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Tod, who led the investigation, said: “We were absolutely determined to find the man responsible for such serious offences and bring him to justice.

"Khanzada posed a significant threat to women. He subjected these victims to a terrifying ordeal and I would like to praise each and every one of them for their bravery in coming forward. Reliving their experiences will have been extremely traumatic, but their actions have ensured that he won’t be able to assault further women.

"No one should live in fear of being the victim of such horrendous offences while simply going about their daily lives, and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure women feel safe on the streets of London.”