A man who dragged a young woman off a Hendon street and raped her has been jailed for at least 14 years.

Junior Brown, 42, of Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, attacked the woman, who is in her early 20s and lives in Hendon, as she walked home on July 22 last year. He forced her to a secluded area and raped her.

Judge Susan Tapping said the injuries suffered by the victim were the worst she had seen in any case she had covered, and Brown must be given a substantial' sentence.

The victim was less than five foot tall and weighed only six stone, Harrow Crown Court heard. Brown waited in bushes before attacking her as she passed. He used a knife to frighten her and cut her a number of times.

Police linked Brown to the attack after taking a DNA sample from him when he was stopped for a traffic offence hours after the rape. It was matched to a sample taken from the victim, who cannot be named.

Brown was jailed yesterday after being found guilty by a jury on January 18.

Detective Inspector Afiz Khan said: "From day one my team has been focused on never giving up and trying to find justice for the victim.

"Although nothing will make the events of that day disappear, I hope that today's conviction and sentencing will enable her to move forward in the knowledge that her attacker is now behind bars."

Mr Khan said victims of sexual offences should feel confident to contact their police station and talk to specially trained officers.