Bungling police left woman to be raped again

A terrified woman was left in the clutches of a rapist after a policeman accepted his explanation that they were having noisy consensual sex.

Pc Matthew Harris, who may now face the sack, was called to a flat in Greenwich after a neighbour heard the victim's cries for help.

When he arrived he spoke to Vytautas Jasionis, 54, but failed to speak to the 32-year-old victim. He also failed to do checks on Jasionis's brother Antanas, wanted for the murder of his wife in Lithuania, who was in the apartment at the time.

Jasionis continued his attack, beating the woman unconscious and raping her again, after the officer left.

She finally rang police after her ordeal ended and named both men.

Judge Michael Carroll, at Woolwich crown court, criticised the policeman for a "failure of duty" and "inadequate investigation" and convicted Jasionis of rape. He will be sentenced later. His brother, 50, was cleared but is awaiting extradition on the murder charge.

A senior police source said Pc Harris's actions were "totally unforgivable".