TROPHY rapist Antoni Imiela has confessed to a string of sex attacks in a letter to his wife.

Imiela, who grew up in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was sentenced to seven life sentences last month for the attacks.

The former railway worker had previously denied he was responsible for the rapes, the youngest victim of which was only ten.

But in a hand-written letter to his wife, Christine, 49-year-old Imiela finally admitted responsibility, saying: "I became a rapist."

The note, written two weeks ago from a high-security prison, said: "I have to be honest to all and to myself.

"Fear of what I know myself stopped the truth coming from my mouth.

"I did untold harm to others and for that I am paying more than prison could ever take from me."

The letter was followed by a phone call to his wife during which Imiela is said to have broke down and admitted he needed psychiatric help.

His wife of seven years said the confession had brought home the full horror of Imiela's crimes.

She said: "With this confession, there is no escaping the reality of it. I see him now as a rapist and not my husband.

"When I really think about it I just want to be sick. I am revolted, especially about the young girls."

She said she hoped the confession would help the victims to get on with their lives.

Imiela began his criminal career with a series of violent armed robberies in the North-East and was jailed for 14 years in 1998.

His sister, Jadwiga, who still lives in Newton Aycliffe, last month revealed that he had written to her to beg for forgiveness, but she said she was so appalled by his crimes that she could not write back.

Imiela was originally accused of nine rapes, but the jury at his trial failed to reach a verdict on two and those charges were left on file.

He was dubbed the Trophy Rapist because he took souvenirs from the victims of his attacks, all of which were carried out near the M25.