A VICIOUS knife-wielding rapist who attacked a grandmother in her own home and has a criminal record in his native Slovakia, was jailed indefinitely under new laws for the "protection of the public".

Judge Richard McGregorh-Johnson told Andrej Balog, 35, of Bollobridge Road, Acton, that he would normally have sent him away for ten years but under new legislation he had to consider the protection of the public.

The minimum Balog will have to serve before any possibility of release will be four years and 158 days, but he will remain under licence supervision for many years and will have to apply to get it lifted.

He will also remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The victim, a Hayes woman, woke in the early hours to find Balog standing naked in the doorway of her bedroom with something obscuring his face.

She was viciously raped at knife-point, subjected to other sexual acts and forced to part with cash intended for her nieces' birthdays, Isleworth Crown Court heard during a week-long trial.

The woman, who has grown-up children and grandchildren, woke up at about 4.30 am last July to see Balog standing in her doorway.

"He got into bed with her and held a sharp object later found to be a knife to her throat," said prosecutor Patricia Jane Harding.

The traumatised victim, who gave evidence to the court by video-link, was left with bruising to her upper arms and internal injuries.

Balog, who was quickly traced through a fingerprint on the window and arrested the next day, also left plenty of DNA.

Denying the charges, he claimed he knew the woman and when she realised it was him, they had consensual sex.

He was found guilty of two charges of raping the woman and one of burglary.

Police enquiries revealed he had "substantial convictions" in Slovakia including those for burglary and robbery on an elderly woman who was left needing 35 days hospital treatment.