THE woman who led detectives hunting a serial rapist to the front door of Antoni Imiela's home has broken her silence.

Kathy Sherwood, who lives near the sex attacker's home in Appledore, Kent, called a crime helpline with his details after seeing an e-fit of the wanted man.

The information led police to the village close and resulted in the 49-year-old's arrest.

Last week Imiela, who is originally from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was given seven life sentences for a string of appalling rapes.

Mrs Sherwood, 49, decided to reveal her identity as an example that people should not to be afraid to come forward and help police.

Within days of Mrs Sherwood's phone call in November 2002, police had taken DNA swabs from her neighbour and two weeks later he was arrested.

She said: "Before the e-fit came out I said to my husband 'I bet your life that's him'. I wasn't being nasty, I just had a feeling it was him.

"I was afraid, but I plucked up the courage and rang. I gave his name, address, what time he came in and out and where he worked.

"I thought he was going to get me, but I decided I could not let this happen any more. I couldn't let women and children get hurt any longer and if it wasn't him it didn't matter."

Mrs Sherwood said her suspicions about Imiela had started several years earlier when he grabbed her and attempted to kiss her in her home, but she managed to fight him off.