A SUSPECTED double rape attacker told staff at a Bed & Breakfast he was going to bring “two girls” to stay with him, The Sun Online can reveal.
The attacker, who spoke in a London accent, wanted to book Room 15 in the Phoenix Lodge guest house in Watford, Herts.
He told the manager he wanted to book a double room for two nights on Thursday and signed the register book.
Saad Sayah, 42, who occasionally works at the B&B, said the suspect was “behaving normally”.
He told The Sun Online: “He came in to rent a room and was asking how much it would be to book one for two nights.
“He said ‘I’ve got two girls with me’ and said he would be bringing them with him.
“The man was a normal guy and was behaving in a normal way. He spoke in a local London accent.”
Police confirmed today that the two women were in the car while the suspect went into the hotel.
The bed and breakfast is just 200 yards from where the girls escaped on nearby Osborne Road.
One of the women who managed to flee from the kidnapper was said to be pregnant, according to a witness.
She had managed to escape from the car she was being held in and run to safety in a shop, after smashing a bottle of vodka over her captor’s head.
Gordon Williams, construction design and management officer at Top Build, told The Times the distressed woman was bleeding heavily from her hand when she rushed into the Watford shop.
He said: “She said ‘I’ve been kidnapped. I’ve escaped – there’s another girl still in there’.
“The first girl was in a very distressed state, she was extremely worried about the second girl.”
The second victim, who had been snatched from the street in Edgware, north London, at 12.15pm on Thursday.
She had managed to run from the car after the first victim at about 2.30pm – who was kidnapped hours earlier at around 12.30am.
Mr Williams added: “The guy was trying to get them into a house, which was when the girl took the opportunity to smash him over the head with a vodka bottle.
“The first girl was pregnant, I believe she was pregnant.”
Cops are hunting the suspect, after releasing CCTV images of the man who tried to book a hotel room in Watford at around 1pm on Thursday.
Officers arrested a 33-year-old man yesterday afternoon on suspicion of conspiracy to rape and took him in for questioning at a west London police station.
But the hunt for the rapist – who is said to have a distinctive tattoo of “bobbie” on his stomach – continues.
Police described him as aged in his late 20s or early 30s, muscular with a bald head or shaved blonde hair and a light-coloured short beard.
The women, both in their 20s, had been targeted at random and abducted 12 hours apart in different areas of North London.
They were snatched from Chingford and Edgware on April 25, and taken to hotel in Watford where a man reportedly attempted to book a room, although none were available.
As the women made their escape two heroic builders chased off the rapist after they heard them screaming.
The Romanian workers, who gave their names only as Ion, 21, and Marcel, 40, had been working in the area when they heard the cries for help.
Ion said: “One woman was on her feet, but he was pulling her by the hair. I ran and said, ‘Leave her alone’.”
He added the attacker threatened him, saying: “My friend, you’re dead.”
Marcel added: “The girls got out of the car. They were in the back. The girls looked very, very scared.
“One girl hit him with a bottle on the head. The guy got scared a bit by the girls and our reaction.”
Boss Alex Kovak, 38, praised his men for their heroic actions and said: “We would help anybody in need.”
Police have also released an image of the suspect’s car – a silver or grey Ford S-Max people carrier with false plates.
Leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin called for anyone with information to come forward.
She said: “Our investigation into these appalling crimes is making good process and my team continue to work extremely hard but we urgently need the help of the public to identify and trace this man.
“We believe he travelled around north London and Hertfordshire in his car from the early hours of Thursday and he may have come into contact with other members of the public.
“Equally he may have abandoned his car somewhere – if an unfamiliar car of this description is now parked on your street, call police straight away.”
She added: “The women, both in their 20s, have been left traumatised and are receiving support from specialist officers.
“Does he look familiar? Do you know anyone with bobbie tattooed on his stomach?”
Anyone who can help is asked to call the incident room on 0208 785 8244 or 999 quoting CAD 3041/25Apr, or tweet @MetCC and or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.
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