A sexual predator who raped two women 20 years ago - one of whom later committed suicide - was finally brought to justice yesterday.

Andrew Thompson, 43, was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court after police used new DNA technology to secure a conviction him.

Thompson, of Othello Court in Old Hospital Close, Balham, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape on November 5 last year.

Using upgraded DNA samples taken from the victims immediately after the attacks, officers were able to identify Thompson when the case files were reopened.

Detective Constable Alyson Suddick, who led the cold case investigation, said: "Thompson preyed on two complete strangers, both of whom suffered severe psychological trauma as a result of their experiences.

"Thanks to technological advances since 1989 we have been able to bring him to justice, and it is only right that this vicious predator should face the consequences of his actions."

Thompson's first attack took place in Clapham, at around 11.45pm on June 23 1989, in the block of flats where his then 36-year-old victim lived with her young daughter.

When he first approached her she confronted him and he backed off - but Thompson then waited until she had climbed several flights of steps before running after her and raping her.

He struck again on the night of November 24 in Battersea, grabbing the 35-year-old victim as she walked past a stairwell on her way to a friend's flat and then raping her.

In both cases the victims went on to suffer emotional breakdowns soon after the attacks. The victim in the second incident committed suicide 11 years later.

Forensic samples taken from both the victims provided a DNA profile which linked the attacks, but no suspect could be identified.

With no other witnesses or leads the trail went cold and the investigations were brought to a close.

With new technology, the files were reviewed by the Cold Case team recently and forensic samples upgraded and searched on the national DNA database. A match with Thompson was obtained after he had been cautioned for a minor drugs offence in 2001.

Thompson was arrested on May 18 last year and charged with both rapes, which he denied committing.

Then, on November 5, four days before the scheduled start of his trial at Southwark Crown Court, he pleaded guilty on both counts.

As well as the jail term, his name was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Thompson was found not guilty on two counts of false imprisonment following a direction from the judge.