A MAN from Northolt has been convicted of violently raping two women.

Paulo Kretteis, 22, was found guilty yesterday (Thursday January 28) of two counts rape and making a threat to kill.

Kretteis, a former student at Ivy League university, Princeton, had been out with his rugby teammates in October 2019, when he spotted a 25-year-old woman outside The Chatsworth Bar in Acton.

He befriended the victim and after walking her back to her home in Hammersmith, asked if she would accompany him to a nearby bus stop.

As they approached a footbridge, Kretteis grabbed the woman by the neck and threatened to kill her.

He started pulling her trousers and hit her face, before orally raping her.

The victim escaped after noticing someone walk by and ran into the middle of the road, where a taxi driver with passengers stopped and called the police.

A few months later, in December 2019, police were called to an address after receiving reports of another woman being attacked and raped.

The 20-year-old victim was left with bruising on her face and throat, along with bite marks.

In February 2020, results from a forensic investigation identified Kretteis - a Brazilian national - from the DNA found on the jacket of the first victim, which had been dumped in a nearby bin.

Kate Shilton, from the CPS, said: "Paulo Kretteis charmed his victims and lulled them into a false sense of security, before carrying out violent sexual attacks.

"The prosecution case included DNA evidence, strong witness testimony and CCTV footage which clearly showed Kretteis at the scene.

"During police interviews Kretteis claimed the person pictured in the footage was not him, adding that he had never styled his hair in a man bun.

"But his Instagram posts showed otherwise.

"The Princeton University top worn by Kretteis on the night of the attack was also found at his home address.

"Sexual offences are some of the most serious, complex and traumatic cases.

"I want to thank the brave victims in this case who have supported the prosecution, one of whom even gave evidence from overseas by live-link due to current travel restrictions.

"I hope this conviction goes some way to providing them with a sense of closure and encourages other victims of sexual crimes to come forward and see their attackers face justice."

Kretteis will be sentenced at a later date.