Brazen predator scoured streets to target his victims

Women praised for coming forward to report knifepoint attacks to police

- JAMES HOLT

LURKING near to the Mancunian Way, Stuart Thomson was lying in wait. He met three female sex workers, before isolating them and then raping them at knifepoint. He also attempted to rape a fourth victim.

The 'arrogant' predator had carried out the horrific attacks over the course of just five hours. Between 10pm and 3am the following morning, he went on to force himself onto the lone women near to Fairfield Street and the Piccadilly Trading Estate.

After his final attack, in the early hours of the morning on January 31, a brazen Thomson even took himself to McDonald's before heading back to a hostel he was staying in.

His fourth victim, who he attacked at around 3am, was the first to phone 999.

Police quickly arrived and cordoned off the area underneath the Mancunian Way amid investigations. Forensics also descended on the scene.

While police were making enquiries, a second woman then approached officers and disclosed that she had too been raped at knifepoint that same night.

Detectives were certain it was the same offender, and began hunting for other potential victims.

Crucial evidence left at scene

Thomson, 34, was confident he wouldn't be caught. He thought he'd got away with it. He presumed his victims, all sex workers, wouldn't speak out or be believed.

Footage showed him scouring the deserted streets of the city centre in the early hours and also picked him up at a McDonald's restaurant.

But one piece of evidence left at the scene then sent investigations moving at a rapid pace.

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Detective Sergeant Jennifer Savazzi said: "By the time we came in at 7am that next morning, we already knew about two victims. Through investigations and speaking to the girls, we then had the name of another victim, who we thought may have been attacked.