Sex offender released from London high-security hospital committed gruesome sexual violence against eight women over three days

• Louis Collins escaped from a London hospital before attacking eight women
• He pleaded guilty to 27 charges, including rape, and will be sentenced on Tuesday
• Collins raped a woman jogging in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham

A brutal sex offender escaped from a locked hospital ward and brutally sexually abused eight women over the course of three days, before raping a jogger with a knife.

Louis Collins, 29, subjected his latest victim to an hour-long ordeal after dragging her away from her running route, just days after leaving Lambeth Hospital unaccompanied.

The porn addict hit the woman on the head from behind as she jogged in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham, south-west London, showed her a knife and a broken bottle and said: “Don’t scream, no one will help you” before ripping her clothes off and attacking her.

The serial sex offender, who was indefinitely committed to a psychiatric hospital in 2020 following a series of assaults, had attacked seven other women across London in the 72 hours before his arrest.

He pleaded guilty to 27 charges, including rape, attempted rape and sexual abuse between August 18 and 21 last year.

Collins first left Lambeth Hospital in south London on August 18 after doctors allowed him to take unaccompanied leave, prosecutor Patricia May said on the first day of his sentencing.

Shortly afterwards, he groped a woman at Clapham Common tube station as she went up the escalator.

Collins returned to the hospital later than planned, but was still allowed to leave.

On August 20, he left the hospital again and began attacking and raping two more women, sexually assaulting four more, and threatening to kill another victim.

But Collins’ final attack in Marble Hill Park at 8am on August 21 was his most brutal, Ms May told the court.

The rapist hit the woman on the head, forced her to the ground, showed her his knife and a broken bottle and said: “Don’t scream, no one will help you.”

The woman shouted for help and two women passing by approached her, but Collins yelled “fuck off or I’ll kill you” and they left. One of them eventually called the police.

In a statement read out in court, the victim said: “On August 21, my world was turned upside down.”

“What happened that day shook my sense of security and my trust in people and justice.”

“I was simply doing my usual morning exercise routine in what is supposed to be a safe public place.

“It became a scene of violence that changed my life forever.” She added: “I have nightmares in which I replay the attack with terrifying accuracy.”

“It has taken away the joy of activities I once loved.”

The victim stated that she was on a waiting list for 18 months for professional counseling that could have helped her cope with the trauma.

“I don’t give up. I don’t let it define me,” she said.

“I’m still here and I’m going to fight to get my life back.”

“I want things to change. I believe that every woman and girl deserves to feel safe in this country.”

“Individuals must be held accountable for their actions and victims must be provided with the appropriate resources.”

“After something so terrible, you shouldn’t have to wait months for therapy.”

Collins was arrested following the attack by British Transport Police as he attempted to break through barriers at Richmond station.

After his name was checked against the police database, he was identified as a fugitive. Officers subsequently linked him to all of the attacks and his final victim recognized him during a lineup on August 22.

The court heard that he committed 15 sexual offences between 2016 and 2020, as well as other crimes including theft, firearms and drug offences.

Defence lawyer Siobhan Molloy said Collins, originally from Croydon in south London, claimed voices in his head compelled him to carry out the attacks but a doctor had determined he did not have psychosis.

“He should have gone to the police station but he didn’t and subsequently committed these crimes,” she said.

The South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, which is responsible for Lambeth Hospital, has been contacted for comment.

Collins will be sentenced by Judge Simon Heptonstall on Tuesday.