DNA tests will reveal today if a serial rapist in Britain who has targeted women in the southeast of the country has struck for the tenth time.
A 14-year-old girl from Stevenage, Hertfordshire,was attacked as she walked home on Friday afternoon.
The man grabbed her from behind, dragged her into woods at knifepoint and raped her.
The rapist was aged between 40 and 60, white, five foot, six inches in height, unshaven and with a large nose.
The so-called trophy rapist - he usually takes an item of clothing from his victims - has been carrying out sex attacks in Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and south London over the past 11 months.
If the latest assault is linked to DNA already held by detectives, it will be the first time he has struck north of the capital.
A police spokeswoman said: "It's not absolutely clear that it is the same man. There are some similarities.
"But there are a couple of things that don't follow the same pattern. The DNA test will clear this up beyond doubt".
PA