A registered sex offender who forced a 17-year-old virgin into a churchyard and raped her twice has been given an indeterminate prison sentence.

Homeless David Simapuka was told he would serve six years behind bars before being considered for release after he admitted raping the teenager in the grounds of Brentford's St Faith's Church, on May 25.

Sentencing Simapuka to a public protection order today at Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson told the 43-year-old that he had “an entirely warped perception of what is proper and normal”.

The court heard Simapuka approached the student - who cannot be named for legal reasons - at a bus stop, in Windmill Road, at 1am after she had spent the night with friends.

After failing to strike up a conversation with the girl, Simapuka put his hand over her mouth and dragged her to the church's side entrance before threatening to kill her and raping her.

After the first attack, Simapuka, who served a four- year prison sentence for an attempted rape in 1997, then began quoting from the Bible and asking his teenage victim for forgiveness.

However, he became angry and raped her a second time.

The terrified girl finally managed to escape the hour-and-a-quarter-long ordeal and was found “crying hysterically” in the street soon after.

When Simapuka was arrested on July 3, in Watford, he told police: "I've got nothing to lose and will accept my responsibilites."

He was planning to flee to Africa the following week.

A statement written by the victim, who was due to take her A-levels weeks after the attack, read: "I was a virgin before the attack and therefore David Simapuka took this from me in the most awful way imaginable.

"At this time I do not know if or how it will affect me when I eventually decide to start dating. This is something I will have to deal with when the time comes.”

Detective Sergeant Louise Caveen of Hounslow Sapphire Unit said: “This was a particularly frightening assault for the victim and I thank her for having the courage to come forward and report this to us.

“Her bravery throughout this traumatic time enabled us to trace Simapuka and bring him to justice.

"Anyone who is a victim of this type of crime can be assured that the Metropolitan Police Service treat all reports of rape seriously and I would encourage them to report any incidences of this nature to us."

Judge McGregor-Johnson also recommended that Simapuka be deported to his native Zambia upon his release.

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