A predatory sex attacker was today starting a seven-year jail sentence for a series of terrifying assaults on women

Paul King preyed on three teenagers in Colchester and indecently assaulted another woman in Chelmsford.

The incidents got worse as time went on and a court heard how the last one involved a teenager having a knife held to her throat.

The attacks featured on the BBC Crimewatch programme and Chelmsford Crown Court heard 20 officers from the Essex Police major investigations team were involved in the case.

A total of 1,200 DNA samples were also taken by officers during the probe.

King, 38, denied having anything to do with the assaults when police finally arrested him but he admitted them when he appeared in court for sentence.

King showed no emotion as Judge Chris Ball QC said women had to be protected from people like him.

After the case, Det Sup Gareth Wilson said he was pleased with the result.

But he added: "I don't think any kind of sentence can compensate for what the victims went through."

Published Friday June 18, 2004

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