A 15-year-old boy from Tooting faces jail after pleading guilty to rape at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

The boy, who cannot be named, forced a woman to give him oral sex on Friday, May 15 this year, the court heard.

A police source said outside the court the boy followed her off the N155 night bus - the same tactic used by convicted rapist Kirk Reid several years ago.

They said: “It was extremely traumatic for the victim, but she was brave enough to come forward.

“We are very happy he pleaded guilty. It spared her having to give evidence.”

The woman, in her late 20s, had been working late and went for a few drinks afterwards with friends, the source said.

Some time between 3.15am and 4am he jumped off the bus behind her and followed her down Mitcham Lane.

The rape took place in Southcroft Road, where he also beat her up, punching her in the face.

He was only charged with the offence when he was arrested for another unrelated crime and police were able to match his DNA, the source added.

The incident has chilling echoes of local rapist Kirk Reid, who was convicted of attacking more than 20 women in the area between 2001 and 2007.

He too was caught partially through DNA evidence after following victims off the N155 bus at night and attacking them.

On Friday, with his mother sitting in the public gallery, the boy showed no emotion as he entered his plea and was told to stay in custody.

He also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) during the same attack.

Judge Mervyn Roberts rejected a request from the Wandsworth Guardian to lift restrictions on naming the defendant, although he said it would be considered again during sentencing, which is likely to be next year.

Criminals who are under 18 are usually granted anonymity by courts, but exceptions can be made when the crime is particularly serious and naming the defendant might act as a deterrent to others.

Government guidelines state the maximum sentence for rape can be life imprisonment, but this is significantly reduced for juveniles.

The news comes after figures obtained exclusively by the Wandsworth Guardian showed there are currently 46 under-18s on London’s sex offenders’ register.

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