Five women attacked by Battersea strangler

Five women have been attacked and strangled to the point of losing consciousness in a spate of terrifying robberies in south London.

The women were all set upon as they walked home after nights out in Battersea in the first week of this month. Now police are linking these attacks with a similar assault in July and a further attack last year.

Police say the women were strangled from behind until they collapsed and lost consciousness. The assailant then grabbed their handbags and ran off.

One detective said: "These women would be walking home when they were ambushed from behind. They would wake up not knowing what had happened to them.

"Some of the attacks took place on their doorstep as they had reached home. They were terrifying experiences."

* A 24-year-old man and a 16-year-old youth are due to appear in court today. The youth is charged with seven offences of robbery and six cases of choking someone with the intent of carrying out an offence. The man is charged with a single offence of robbery.