Ben McPartland A FORMER security guard at the Royal Free hospital has been jailed for the horrific rape of a woman who had enjoyed a night out in Camden Town. David Brown, 43, targeted his 40-year-old victim as she tried to get a taxi home at around 3am

Ben McPartland

A FORMER security guard at the Royal Free hospital has been jailed for the horrific rape of a woman who had enjoyed a night out in Camden Town.

David Brown, 43, targeted his 40-year-old victim as she tried to get a taxi home at around 3am on July 13 last year. He dragged her into Leybourne Road, not far from the celebrity haunt The Hawley Arms, and attacked her.

He then failed to show up at the Pond Street hospital where he had worked for two years and went on the run. Police, who used forensics to identify Brown as the chief suspect, launched a manhunt and eventually tracked him down to an address in Nottingham before Christmas.

At Blackfriars Crown Court last week Brown, of no fixed address, was sentenced to eight years behind bars after being found guilty by the jury at the end of a four day trial.

Specialist rape investigator Det Sgt Mark Holloway said: "This was a very nasty attack on a woman who had been out for the night in the Camden Town area. She was on her way home and was trying to get a taxi when this man approached her. There was no physical violence but threats were used on her.

"He had a very brief conversation with her which she cannot remember much about and then pulled her off into a side street and raped her."

A short while later a security guard spotted the victim walking along the street, noticed she was distressed and called the police.

DNA samples taken by police pointed them in the direction of Brown, who was known to them, but did not have a past of sexual offences.

"We did not stop working on it," said Det Sgt Holloway. "We treated the case as a priority and employed another department who specialise in manhunts to track him down. At court the judge actually said he was obviously stalking the place and took advantage of a vulnerable woman. It is important for the safety of other women that this man is taken off the streets."

Despite the DNA evidence Brown denied he was the attacker, meaning the victim was forced to go through the ordeal of giving evidence in court.

Det Sgt Holloway warned women who go out for a night out to be vigilant.

He said: "Obviously they should try and avoid drinking too much, stay with friends and avoid going into side streets or places like that alone."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Free said: "Mr Brown was employed by the trust in the security team from August 2007 until July 2009.

"The trust carries out thorough pre-employment checks on all our security staff including the CRB check and taking up references."

Figures revealed in April showed that the number of allegations of rape in the borough of Camden had almost doubled in 2009/10 compared to the previous year.

Police chiefs argue this is mainly down to victims having more confidence to report attacks.