A TEENAGER who fled to Britain while being investigated for three sex attacks raped a youngster within two weeks of his arrival, a court heard yesterday.
Serial sex beast Gerson Correia Garcia, 17, slipped into the UK from Portugal to join relatives intending to "start a new life".

But within a fortnight he pounced on a 17-year-old as she walked home in the early hours after a music festival.

The brute slapped, half-strangled and head-butted the girl before repeatedly raping her.

She could not breathe because of the pressure on her windpipe and, believing Garcia was going to kill her, played "dead".

Police in Leeds tracked down Garcia four days later and then discovered he had been under investigation in his homeland, the court heard.

Prosecutor Richard Gioserano told Leeds Crown Court Garcia was being linked to three rapes in the Lisbon area.

But he was still able to travel abroad.

Garcia admitted raping the girl in Leeds twice and was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

He has also admitted one of the rapes in Portugal.

Judge Paul Hoffman recommended Garcia's deportation but ordered he serve a minimum of four years and 145 days before being considered for parole.

He said: "You fled Portugal to escape the consequences of an investigation into alleged offences of rape there.

"One of those offences at least you admit. You are a serial offender."

Local Tory MP Philip Davies said: "This case highlights once more what happens when you lose control of your borders and have a free movement of people within the EU.

"Unfortunately this poor young lady is the victim of that policy.

"We had the advantage of being an island. We should use that advantage to make sure we have total control over our borders."