A Croydon man who sexually assaulted a woman outside her home was arrested within an hour after officers tracked the mobile phone he stole from the victim.

Yanick Makunga, 34, of Warwick Road, was sentenced to serve a minimum of five years and 57 days, after admitting to false imprisonment, robbery, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence and possession of cannabis.

He denied attempted rape; this charge will remain on file.

Makunga attacked the victim, a woman in her 30s, outside her Dulwich home in the early hours of Thursday, February 14.

During an attack in which he sexually assaulted her, he threatened her with a knife, demanding money.

He marched the victim to a local shop, where she withdrew cash from a machine before he left her.

Makunga stole the victims phone, which had a 'find device' app installed, allowing the movements of the phone to be tracked.

Officers carried out fast-time enquiries, visiting locations from which the phone was transmitting, eventually identifying and arresting Makunga on George Street in Croydon.

Upon being searched, he was found with other valuables belonging to the victim.

The woman received specialist support at a haven.

Makunga was charged with various offences on Friday, February 15 and sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday June 25.

The court heard that Makunga had a previous conviction for a rape committed in 2009.

Detective Constable Kara Eyre, of the South East Command Unit Safeguarding Team, said: “This was a terrifying attack which has left the victim traumatised.

"It is every woman’s worst nightmare.

“Even after her cries to stop, he did not hesitate to frogmarch the woman to a cashpoint and rob her, and then return to her home to continue to terrorise her.

“The attending officers had the foresight and instinct to quickly establish that the victim’s phone, which Makunga had stolen, could be traced. It ended up leading them right to their suspect, and detaining him so he couldn’t pose any further risk to the public.

“Makunga is a danger to women, and jail is the right place for him.”