A rapist jailed almost 30 years ago, has confessed to two more offences that took place in the 1980s.

Michael Chandler, 53 pleaded guilty today (Jan 13) to one count of rape committed in Harrow on 27 March 1986.

He previously pleaded guilty in 2014, to a second count of rape and false imprisonment in relation to a rape committed in Harrow on 1 March 1986.

He will be sentenced at the same court on next Monday (Jan 16).

Between 1985 and 1987 Chandler carried out a series of vicious attacks on young women across north-west London.

A number of offences against ten separate victims were investigated, of which offences against nine victims were put before the court.

Chandler was convicted at the Old Bailey in March 1988, for a number of offences, significantly six counts of rape; however he was acquitted in relation to offences against three victims.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 14 years'. Chandler has remained in custody since this conviction.

According to a directive, in 2010 UK police forces were required to review whether the safety of convictions prior to December 1990 might be affected by developments in DNA testing technology.

In 2012 Detectives from the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command reviewed Chandler's 1988 conviction as well as a review of the tenth investigation which Chandler had not stood trial for.

On March 27, 1986, the then 30-year-old victim had been on an evening out with friends at a public house close to where she worked.

She left the pub at around 11.30pm.

The victim went to bed and awoke a while later to find Chandler lying on top of her.

Her hands had been tied behind her back and Chandler raped the victim. He then left the room through an open window.

Scientists were able to successfully obtain a DNA profile, which was a match to Chandler.

Chandler was produced from prison in February 2014, and arrested in connection with the investigation into the rape of the 30-year-old victim.

He was charged on in October 2014 with this offence and he appeared at the Old Bailey later that same year where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

A re-investigation involved interviewing Chandler again with the offences he had been acquitted of.

One of those cases related to a 19-year-old victim who had also been raped in March 1986.

At around1am that day, the victim was walking through West Harrow Park, where she noticed a man behind a tree.

Chandler who was wearing a balaclava and holding a knife jumped out in front of the victim and began hitting her and dragging her by her clothing.

He then raped the victim and threatened her life.  

Forensic evidence revealed Chandler was yet again, a match.

The acquittal in relation to the 19-year-old victim was quashed by the Court of Appeal in December 2016 and Chandler's case was referred back to the Old Bailey so that he could be charged.

Chandler was charged with the rape of 19-year-old victim today and he pleaded guilty to the offence during the same hearing.

Detective Sergeant Michael McInerney from the Met's Complex Case team said: “The overwhelming evidence meant that he had no choice but confess to this crime.

"It was a surprise to us all when Chandler made further admissions to the case he was originally acquitted of in 1988 and with the supporting forensic evidence in this case verifying his guilt I am pleased he decided to plead guilty sparing his victim of yet another trial.

"Both women were subjected to violent and sustained attacks and their ordeal has been compounded by the fact that they have had to wait almost three decades to see the man responsible convicted.”