A pensioner branded Russia's worst-ever serial rapist has admitted targeting 90 women during a 41- year campaign of abuse.

Perverted Valery Makarenkov, 69, was labelled the 'Birthday Rapist' after boasting to police he 'treated himself to women on his birthday' - allegedly including a girl as young as 10.

Police in Russia revealed that he had confessed to scores of rapes but investigators have only found sufficient evidence and victims willing to testify against him for 31 of the attacks.

It is thought there may be more than 100 victims as police probe further allegations that Makarenkov committed three murders during his reign of terror.

Busted: Pensioner Valery Makarenkov, 69, was branded Russia's worst-ever serial rapist after police revealed that he had confessed to targeting 90 women over a 41-year reign of terror in Moscow

Probe: A police spokesman described the case as one of the most complex sex crime cases in Russian history. Some 20,000 men came under suspicion during the two-year investigation

Horror: One of the women allegedly attacked by Makarenkov, named Maria, re-visited the scene to walk through how he had choked her and dragged her into nearby bushes

His serial confession was disclosed by the Investigative Committee, the Russian equivalent of the FBI.

Under Russian law, Makarenko will still face trial because prosecutors need to establish before the court that he committed the crimes, even though he has already admitted his guilt.

His trial is due to take place later this year and he faces charges of rape, sexual violence, and violent attack with intent to rob.

The length of sentence will depend on the judge but legal experts say he is likely to die in a penal colony.

Reflecting on the length of time Makarenko had been targeting women, one policemen said: 'He started his crime spree when we were all in nursery school.

He enjoyed being a hunter. He had to trace his victim, to follow her, to catch her. All this gave him excitement he needed. Police spokesman

'There was never such a criminal in Moscow with such a long history of crimes.

'We won't find evidence about all his crimes for sure.

'Half of his victims simply don't remember what he looked like, some are dead now, others moved away.

'There are serious grounds to suspect him of at least three murders. But only Makarenkov himself knows how many victims he had.'

The officer added: 'He enjoyed being a hunter. He had to trace his victim, to follow her, to catch her. All this gave him excitement he needed, thrilled him. It was adrenaline.'

Dubbed 'the most complex sex crime case in Russian history', some 20,000 men fell under suspicion over the course of two years before DNA and forensic evidence led police to Makarenkov.

Victims: Makarenkov enjoyed 'hunting' his victims, and being 'thrilled' by chasing down the women before raping them, police said

Vulnerable: According to police, Makarenkov cycled up behind his victims before choking them until they lost consciousness and raping them

A divorced father-of-one, Makarenkov worked as a diver, in a factory, and briefly as a taxi driver. He was also a keen cyclist.

According to police, Makarenkov typically cycled up behind his victims in isolated areas including car parks and lonely streets late at night, before choking and raping them.

He allegedly then robbed them of money, jewellery and personal possessions - including a doll that he is accused of stealing from a 10-year-old girl he allegedly raped in 1977.

I tried to understand what had happened. I felt as though I was frozen. I understand that it was a miracle I survived. Maria, one of Makarenkov's alleged victims

Police are still searching for what they fear will be a macabre stash of the objects he is said to have stolen from his victims.

One victim, Elena, said she remembered only 'a strong arm caught my throat'.

She regained consciousness an hour later and found herself lying in some bushes, having been raped and robbed.

'I thought, what should I do? Go to the police? But I didn't actually see him. They will laugh at me, I have nothing to tell.

'I thought it was better to rush home and try to forget about it.'

Another victim, Maria, in her 30s, told how she was attacked in early June 2013 as she walked home from work at 1am.

'Suddenly I spotted a man behind my back, he had a bike,' she said.

'I didn't pay any attention to him. I kept walking and texting my friend. A minute later, I turned around and saw him right next to me and without his bike.

'Next moment he attacked me and began to strangle me. I managed only to cry out once before he squeezed my throat.

On trial: Officers are continuing to investigate Makarenkov, in the hope of gathering enough evidence to charge him with additional rapes as well as the murder of three people

Found: Makarenkov had eluded justice for years but was tracked down by police using DNA and forensic evidence

Makarenkov typically cycled up behind his victims in isolated areas including car parks and lonely streets late at night, before choking and raping them

'I lost consciousness within two seconds. It was like he just switched me off. Then he dragged my body through some bushes.'

She returned to the scene for a report by NTV, to describe the horror of the attack.

'I woke up all covered in mud, and I had just one shoe on,' she continued.

'I tried to understand what had happened; honestly I didn't realise I was completely naked. I felt as though I was frozen. I understand that it was a miracle I survived.

'Then my friend turned up, the one I had planned to meet. He found me and called the police.

He started his crime spree when we were all in nursery school. There was never such a criminal in Moscow with such a long history of crimes.

'My mobile phone was next to me and rang all the time, but he had taken everything from my bag. I had some documents from work and 20,000 roubles (£240) with me.

'And two weeks later he attacked my friend at about 11pm. He didn't rape her, somebody scared him away.'

Maria had been able to catch a glimpse of her attacker, and gave crucial evidence to police in drawing up an identikit picture.

Makarenkov's final alleged attack came on May 26 2014, against a 29-year-old woman in Moscow's Kuzminki Park.

The woman fought him off and immediately reported the attack to police, who were able to detain him.

In his bag they discovered a knife, rope and pepper spray.

'With the help of DNA tests it was possible to establish Makarenkov's involvement in 31 similar crimes in Moscow,' said Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee, the equivalent of the FBI.

'He attacked me and began to strangle me. I managed only to cry out once before he squeezed my throat.' Victim Maria describes her ordeal at the hands of her attacker

The serial confession was disclosed by the Investigative Committee, the Russian equivalent of the FBI and Makarenkov is expected to die in prison

'Investigators and criminologists performed large-scale and thorough work, having interrogated more than 100 victims and witnesses, and held a set of genetic, biological and forensic tests.

'According to the psychiatric experts, the accused man was considered to be in a normal mental state.

'Over these years, about 20,000 Moscow citizens were studied in suspicion of being connected to the crimes.'