Sex offender allowed to walk free from secure hospital attacked eight women in four days

The court heard how the 29-year-old hit the woman over the head and forced her to the ground in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham. After brandishing a broken bottle and knife, he said “don’t scream, nobody’s going to help you”, before tearing her clothes off and assaulting her.

Two women walked over to the scene after they heard the victim screaming for help. Collins yelled “f*** off or I will kill you” and they left.

Patricia May, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing that Collins was let out of Lambeth Hospital without supervision on August 18 last year after doctors agreed he could have an unescorted absence. However, he groped a woman at Clapham Common station shortly after release.

Collins later returned to the hospital past his curfew, but despite this was allowed to leave again on August 20. On the same day, he attacked and attempted to rape two other women, sexually assaulting four more and threatening to kill another. A day later, the incident in Marble Hill Park took place.

Siobhan Molloy, mitigating, said Collins claimed voices in his head had told him to carry out the attacks. However, a doctor told the court Collins did not show signs of a psychotic illness.

A spokesperson for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, responsible for Lambeth Hospital, told The Telegraph: "We strongly support the court’s decision today in sentencing Louis Collins who pleaded guilty to all charges.

"These are appalling crimes, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We have completed a thorough internal investigation and continue to do our utmost to improve our services."

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In a statement read at court the victim said: “On August 21, my world turned upside down. What happened on that day shattered my sense of security, trust in people and justice."

Detective Inspector Simon Sherlock, from the South West Command Unit, said: "Collins is a dangerous predator and the length of his sentence reflects the level of risk he poses to the public. Our thoughts today are with the women he subjected to sexual violence, and I would like to thank them for their bravery and help with our investigation.

"By working with our colleagues at British Transport Police and City of London Police, we are able to link Collins to a number of offences, and he has now been held to account. The Met is working hard to tackle violence against women and girls, and we are committed to identifying offenders and bringing them before the courts.

"While there is no evidence at this time to suggest further offending by Collins, I would urge anyone who may be a victim to please come forward and speak with us. If you do not want to contact officers, there are a number of charities and organisations that can offer you support."

Officers attended the scene at Marble Hill Park and spoke with the woman, who was provided with support from specialist officers.

As a result of a fast-paced investigation by detectives involving a review of local CCTV footage from the area of the attack, Collins was arrested the same day at an address in Lambeth.

He was charged two days later with 13 offences in relation to this attack.