POLICE hunting a North-East rapist who attacked two women in London, are looking at more than 3,000 rape cases to see if he has struck before.

The Metropolitan Police's Serious Crime Group is liaising with other forces, including in the North-East, to establish any links with similar cases.

But Surrey police last night ruled out reports of a link between the London rapist and missing Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

It was revealed last week that the ginger-haired rapist, who speaks with a North-East accent, stole a mobile phone from one of his victims and used it to call her mother to gloat: "I've just raped your daughter".

The 26-year-old victim had been pulled into bushes on Putney Heath on July 11, before she was raped and her phone was stolen.

In a linked incident on August 6, a 52-year-old woman was threatened with a knife and raped as she walked her dog on Wimbledon Common.

Police described the phonecall as "evil" and are concerned the man will strike again and could kill his next victim.

They are now in the process of examining more than 3,000 rape or indecent assault cases to find similar features.

It is believed DNA evidence has linked the man, who was described as smelling of unwashed clothes, to another rape in Ashford, Kent last November.

But a Metropolitan police spokeswoman said last night: "We are not commenting on any DNA evidence."

In the Ashford attack, a ten-year-old was punched in the face and raped by a woolen-hatted man just metres from Ashford International Eurostar Terminal after leaving a nearby youth club.

The girl was raped repeatedly on waste ground and had to undergo Aids tests afterwards.

Both women in the Wimbledon attack described the man as being 5ft 7in tall, in his thirties and with a North-East, possibly Geordie, accent.

He had a stocky or muscular build, a ruddy complexion and ginger hair.