Sex attacker locked up indefinitely

A serial sex predator who rode a child's bike as he searched for young victims was jailed indefinitely today.

Michael McCalla, 45, targeted vulnerable schoolgirls, joggers and women heading home from work.

Much of his year-long campaign was carried out after he had been released on bail for a similar attack.

McCalla was finally trapped by DNA evidence from the clothing of a young student he had abused in her south London block of flats.

In court she described how McCalla "tailgated" her to gain entry to the flats, then tried to sexually attack her.

She said: "I couldn't move, kick or anything." Her screams drove him off.

In a recording of her 999 she told how McCalla had "pushed me down on the stairs and put his hand (on me). I just screamed and then he left."

McCalla, of Clapham, was arrested and identified by all his victims, who included two 14-year-old girls attacked on their way to school and a jogger as she tried to call police on her mobile.

But before he could be brought to trial he was jailed for nine months at Kingston crown court for a similar attack.

Today he was given an indefinite sentence at Inner London crown court after being convicted of eight sexual assaults involving seven victims during the 12 months to October last year.