A nursing home owner who used his position of power to repeatedly rape a foreign student is facing jail after being found guilty of the crimes.

James Safo, 62, subjected the woman to a string of violent rapes for two years after she refused his sexual advances, and threatened to get her deported if she told anyone.

His victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had been living in fear of Safo and his threats to her immigration status and was deeply shamed and embarrassed by what had happened.

Safo, from Hayes Lane, Kenley, runs three nursing homes in Croydon and a fourth in Dorking.

They include Alexandra House in Addiscombe, Waratah House in Sanderstead and The Warren in Coombe Road.

He was found guilty of three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault on October 21 following a trial at Croydon Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Gary Small from the Metropolitan Police Sapphire Command said: “This man used his position to intimidate the victim so that she wouldn't speak up about the rapes.

“He controlled her through her fear and used her immigration status to sexually abuse her.

“This verdict sends the message that the Metropolitan Police Sapphire Command will do everything it takes to bring the perpetrators of sexual crime to justice.”

Safo will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, December 6.