A RAPIST who beat a Barnet woman unconscious before raping her after breaking into her home has been jailed 20 years after committing the crime.

Stephen Johnstone, 50, was caught by the Met Police's Sapphire Cold Case team after DNA taken from the scenes of his two crimes was matched to a sample he gave when arrested for drink driving.

He struck first in September 1989 at the home of a 62-year-old widow who he raped and then robbed after breaking in.

In the afternoon of October 23 he broke into the home of a 25-year-old woman in Barnet and beat her unconscious before raping and then stole jewellery and cash.

The convicted burglar was arrested in April at his home in Scotland and initially denied the charges, but on August 21 pleaded guilty to Today at Southwark Crown Court he was sentenced to nine years for rape, four years for burglary and three years for actual bodily harm, all to run concurrently.

Detective Constable Jenny Thrower of the cold case team said: "Johnstone's offences were particularly brutal leaving both victims badly traumatised and suffering significant after-effects even until today.

"It is right that he should be held to account for his crimes and that a clear menace to society should be taken from our streets.

"This case shows that the Metropolitan Police will do everything possible to make sure offenders are brought to justice - regardless of when their crimes were committed."

For the other crime he was sentenced to eight years for rape and four years for robbery, which will run concurrently with his other sentences.