A 35-year-old rapist and murderer has avoided being handed a second life sentence in 20 years.

Killer Cleon Reid received his first in 1996 after stabbing to death a 75-year-old pensioner.

Four times he was released on parole and each time was recalled for breaching his licence.

Now a judge has decided not to hand out another life sentence after he was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court of three rapes and two assaults on a victim from Dover.

But Reid was jailed for 12 years for the attacks after Judge Heather Norton told him he still posed a danger to the public.

He closed his eyes in the dock as a female friend wept in the public gallery.

The judge told him that his victim had been left so traumatised since the incidents she has been forced to change her identity.

The jury in the rape trial was told that Reid was regarded as "intelligent and charming" but he had a dark side.

But they weren’t told that 20 years earlier he had stabbed to death a war veteran to death during a break-in.

Although he was just 15 at the time, an Old Bailey judge gave permission for him to be named after ruling he posed "a potential risk" to the public.

While awaiting trial for the murder, Reid escaped custody "with ease" after being taken swimming by a social worker.

The 6ft youth was able to flee from his minder while awaiting trial and being held at Orchard Lodge Assessment Centre, in south-east London, under a restriction order on his movements.

He was later convicted of murdering Ted Howell, 75, by stabbing him to death during a burglary at his home in Lewisham, south London in November 1996.

During his trial at the Old Bailey, the jury heard how the victim, a former Royal Engineer and Second World War veteran, was followed home from the post office by Reid, who was out on bail at the time, awaiting trial for seven burglaries.

In a completely unprovoked attack, the teenager stabbed Ted repeatedly and stole his pension money.

Judge Grigson agreed that Reid's identity - up until then protected under a Children and Young Persons Act order - should be made public after hearing details of the escape two days ago.

He was released from his sentence but recalled on licence four times including in 2014 after the allegations, which has now led to his further convictions.

Canterbury Crown Court heard of several incidents in which Reid subjected his latest victim to sexual as well as violent assaults. At one point he strangled her, and in a separate incident, kicked her to the leg.

After the trial, Detective Constable Daniel Aylett said: "I commend the victim for coming forward to report it – she has shown great strength during the investigation and the case."