A man has admitted raping a teenager and a 64-year-old grandmother in Edmonton.

Haci Tasan, 31, a Turkish asylum seeker of no fixed address, first struck on April 4, last year, as his older victim walked to work in Langhedge Lane at about 5am.

The horrifying attack, which shocked the community, prompted a reward of £10,000 for information and an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch UK.

But eight months later, on December 23, Tasan struck again, targeting a 19-year-old woman as she walked home along Fore Street at the junction with Alpha Road at about 3am.

Tasan grabbed her by the throat and dragged her into a service road behind a row of shops where she was assaulted.

Her ordeal lasted 30 minutes before she managed to escape and raise the alarm.

Tasan had been living in a council flat less than half-a-mile away from the scene of the attacks.

Afterwards, he fled to Switzerland but police tracked him down, and with the help of the Swiss police forces, Tasan was arrested and extradited to the UK to face trial.

Tasan admitted both attacks when he appeared at Harrow Crown Court on Monday.

He is due to be sentenced on November 18.

DI Lloyd Gardner, who led the investigation for Operation Sapphire at Winchmore Hill police station, said: "Haci Tasan generated fear within the community following these horrific attacks.

"The two women involved were incredibly brave and continue to recover from their terrible ordeal.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their tremendous help. Their response was amazing and I have no doubt Tasan would have gone on to attack using even more violence had he not