Mamun Rashid, 30, of Tower Hamlets, was jailed for 18 years for raping three women

A spurned landlord, who raped three women after they turned down his offer of rent-free lodgings in return for sex, has been jailed for 18 years.

Mamun Rashid, 30, of Jodrell Road, Tower Hamlets, met his victims after purposefully advertising his spare bedroom to women aged between 18 and 45-years-old on SpareRoom, a house-share website.

He was sentenced to a total of 18 years at Wood Green Crown Court after admitting five counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, one count of assault by penetration, one count of sexual assault, one count of actual bodily harm (ABH) and one count of threatening to kill at a previous hearing.

His victims, aged 19 to 29-years-old, were attacked them from his home between August 2016 and May 2017.

They had all made contact with Rashid via SpareRoom and once they were living in his flat, were offered the option of not paying rent in return for sex.

When they refused, Rashid seriously sexually assaulted them.

His youngest victim was raped the same evening she moved in, on 6 May 2017. She screamed throughout the ordeal, during which Rashid threatened to kill her if she tried to escape or call police.

But he eventually let her go and fled to a friend's house.

Rashid was arrested the following day and police then contacted 3,000 women who had been in contact with him via SpareRoom. Two further victims, aged 22 and 29, came forward.

He denied all charges, but was convicted following a two-week trial where all three gave evidence at court.

Rashid advertised a room for rent in his flat through SpareRoom.com, a house share website

Detective Constable Stav Georgiou-Moran, of the Met's Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: 'Rashid's vicious sexual assaults of these three women were appalling and left them with not only physical injuries, but also psychological trauma.

'The women have shown great courage and bravery in giving evidence against Rashid, ensuring that he is made to answer for his actions.

'I want to encourage any person who has been the victim of sexual assault to tell those close to you and inform the police.'

Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom's communications director, said: 'We're appalled by these incidents, and our thoughts go out to the victims.

'The safety of our users is SpareRoom's top priority, and we've done everything we can to co-operate fully with the police, to help them bring this case to trial and ensure a conviction.'

Rashid will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.