A DANGEROUS rapist who dragged a stranger into a park before violently attacking her may have targeted other women across the country.

Knife-wielding Mark Pearton was today jailed for life for the second time after grabbing the woman before raping her in Raleigh Park, Oxford.

The predator carried out the horrific ordeal in January, just two years after he was released from jail following a 16-year stint for sex offences.

Senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Inspector Jim Holmes told the Oxford Mail he found it 'very disturbing' Pearton had gone on to commit another serious sexual offence after being convicted of raping a teenager in 1999, for which he was handed his first life sentence.

The Thames Valley Police officer confirmed it was possible Pearton had committed further offences across the UK but said officers had not yet linked him to other crimes.

He added: "I would be very surprised if nationally this was his only offence in that time. I would appeal to people who believe they may have been a victim to come forward.

"He is probably one of the most dangerous people I have had to investigate."

Pearton was jailed for five years in 1994 after committing two counts of robbery, and went on to indecently assault and rape a teenager in East Sussex five years later.

The 44-year-old was handed a life sentence, with a minimum term of four years and seven months, but was released from prison in 2015 on a life licence after the parole board deemed him no longer a danger to the public.

But he appeared at Oxford Crown Court today after confessing to raping and sexually assaulting the woman, as well as possession of a bladed article, on January 10.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC branded Pearton a danger to the public and said there was a 'significant' risk he would cause serious harm by committing further offences.

He told Pearton he had left his victim 'permanently scarred', ordering him to serve a seven-a-half-year minimum term before he can be considered for release but warning him he may never be freed.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been running in the Botley area and was walking back home along Harcourt Hill at about 7.45pm on the day of the attack.

She was texting her boyfriend when she realised someone edging closer to her, moving to the side to let them pass.

But balaclava-clad Pearton took hold of her, covering her mouth with his hand and pulling a Stanley knife to her throat, prosecutor Michael Roques told the court.

He dragged her across the road and into the park, which is on the borders of Botley and North Hinksey, threatening to slit her throat when she pretended she had fainted.

The rapist demanded her mobile's passcode and asked her name and age, before leaping onto her as she begged to be freed from his grip.

Pearton then carried out his sexual attack before fleeing the park with some of her clothing in an attempt to stop officers detecting his DNA, Mr Roques said.

The victim's mobile was tracked on an app travelling along the A34, near Wytham, while police later matched Pearton's DNA to samples taken from the woman.

The sex offender's car was also spotted on CCTV in Westminster Way, just 800m from the crime scene.

Officers stormed Pearson's East Sussex home three days later, discovering he had bought the balaclava and a headlight torch two months earlier.

Pornographic material was also uncovered on his laptop depicting women being 'forced to do things they did not want to', the prosecutor added.

Pearton told interviewing officers he had got lost on his way back from Birmingham and asked the woman for directions, before having consensual sex.

The harrowing attack has left the victim 'too scared to live her life in the way she did before', feeling unsafe wherever she goes and shuddering when a man comes near her, a statement to the court read.

She believed it was 'unjust' she was forced onto a waiting list for counselling to help her come to terms with the ordeal while Pearton was offered the service behind bars.

Defence barrister Tony Loader said Pearton, of Cavendish Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex, claimed he was on his way home when his depression 'virtually overtook him'.

The rapist, who appeared via video link from HMP Woodhill, was contemplating suicide when he spotted his victim, deciding the 'best place' for him was back behind bars.

He was not offered any courses by the prison service during his 16-year stint to tackle his sexual offending, the barrister added.

DI Holmes said it was 'incredibly rare' for sex offenders to target strangers but revealed officers are still not able to uncover why Pearton decided to come to the county.

The officer said he believed Pearton had 'played the system', manipulating the parole board into believing he was safe to be released from jail.

He added: "The victim has gone through a life-changing event and it will be with her and her family forever.

"This will be a talking point in the community for years to come."