A sex stalker who targeted lone women in Faversham and Whitstable was caught after his boss saw him pictured in a police CCTV appeal.

Bulgarian Tsvetan Toderov was living in a flat above a local fish and chip bar, where he was working, when he carried out the attacks.

But when police circulated images of the main suspect shopping in Tesco Toderov's boss recognised him as the culprit and alerted officers.

And as a result of the picture appeal, another victim of the 27-year-old also came forward.

Now Toderov has been jailed for a total of 28 months after admitting two sex assaults and three times exposing himself in public.

Judge Heather Norton told him: “These attacks took place in times and circumstances where the victims were on their own and there was nobody else around, taking place in a subway and an alleyway.”

Canterbury Crown Court heard how in August Toderov followed one victim to Station Road in Faversham, grabbing her from behind and groping her before pushing her against a wall.

Prosecutor Edmund Fowler said the courageous victim then lashed out, stamping on Toderev’s foot and forcing him to flee.

But only a month later he carried out more attacks, twice flashing at women and assaulting another victim.

Mr Fowler told how the pervert grabbed the woman walking under a bridge near Athelstan Road, Faversham, when she was knocked to the ground screaming.

Toderov then exposed himself, telling his terrified victim: “We just have sex.”

Following the release of the CCTV image, a member of the public contacted police with a report of indecent exposure in the Crescent Road area, where Toderov exposed himself to a woman outside a supermarket.

He was also linked to a report of indecent exposure in the Cromwell Road area of Whitstable, where the victim gave a description matching Toderov.

Three of the women later revealed how they were left fearful about going out after the incidents.

Toderov said he had no explanation for his behaviour but was extremely remorseful.

The judge told him he had targeted women walking alone in a series of attacks which had left his victims to become fearful.

Toderov was also added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Investigating officer DC Clare Lockwood, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "Following the release of the appeal, we received a number of calls from members of the public whose information, alongside the ongoing work of our officers, helped locate Toderov.

"His actions are completely unacceptable and I hope this sentence will force him to realise that such behaviour has no place in society.

"I would like to thank those who contacted us and would encourage anyone who sees an appeal in future, and believes they can help, to get in touch.

"Any amount of information can be the tipping point that concludes an investigation."