Police face probe over sex attacker

Children's football coach Kirk Reid, 44, was found guilty of stalking and attacking 25 women over 12 years by a jury at Kingston Crown Court.

The college head chef admitted a further two indecent assaults and was also found guilty of raping a woman he grabbed on the street in March 2002 and an unconnected rape of a woman in a flat in 1995.

Reid will be sentenced later this year after undergoing psychiatric assessment. He is likely to face a lengthy custodial sentence, the court heard.

Reid pounced on his victims as they made their way home from nights out in the Balham, Clapham and Tooting areas of south west London.

Police believe he is a serial sex predator behind at least 71 attacks on women.

Investigators suspect he could be responsible for dozens more attacks that have not been reported and have launched a helpline for potential victims.

After reporting restrictions were lifted, it can now be revealed that Reid repeatedly slipped through the police net during a series of blunders.

Officers in Wandsworth borough identified that a repeat sex attacker was on the loose in September 2002 and identified Reid as a suspect in February 2004.

But despite Reid crossing their radar on several further occasions he was not held until January 2008 when Scotland Yard detectives took over the case.