A sex offender allowed to walk free from a secure hospital attacked eight women in four days

Patricia May, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing that Collins was allowed to leave Lambeth Hospital unsupervised on August 18 last year after doctors agreed he could have an unaccompanied absence. However, he groped a woman at Clapham Common station shortly after his release.

Collins later returned to the hospital overtime, but despite this was allowed to leave again on August 20. On the same day, he attacked and attempted to rape two other women, sexually assaulting four more and threatening to kill another. A day later, the Marble Hill Park incident occurred.

Siobhan Molloy, mitigating, said Collins claimed voices in his head told him to carry out the attacks. However, a doctor told the court that Collins showed no signs of psychotic illness.

A spokesman for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for Lambeth Hospital, told The Telegraph: “We strongly support the court’s decision today to convict Louis Collins, who pleaded guilty to all charges.

“These are horrific crimes and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We have completed a thorough internal investigation and continue to do everything we can to improve our services.”

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