Psychopath John White has been convicted of the brutal rape of a student nurse in Gloucester 16 years ago.

The woman said she feared for her life during the horrific attack and now her evil rapist is facing life behind bars.

His conviction at Gloucester Crown Court came about after advances in technology which matched his DNA.

But the 44-year-old, described as an "untreatable psychopath" was almost never caught after police lost a fax naming him as a suspect back in 1998.

Yesterday White, a former bodybuilder originally from London, was back behind bars and Judge Jamie Tabor QC praised the victim for her courage in giving evidence.

He said: "I can only just imagine what you went through.

"I hope that this is the cut off and you can now get on with your life. If people like you did not have the courage to come along to court people like John White would be roaming the streets."

It will not be the first spell in prison for the dad-of-two who has only spent 13 days at liberty since he was jailed in 1994 for raping three women in 1989, 1991 and 1993.

White, of no fixed abode, carried out a four-year reign of terror in south London and was caught following a rooftop chase with police.

According to newspaper reports at the time, his downfall came about when his fingerprints were found following the rape of a 41-year-old woman in south London in March 1993.

Police then released White's photograph which was recognised by two other victims, both women aged 21 and 61.

At the time, he pleaded for leniency before being sentenced claiming he had converted to become a God fearing Christian but the judge was not persuaded.

White has always denied raping the 30-year-old woman in Gloucester on November 3, 1991.

However, during his recent trial, his victim now aged 47, described in detail how she suffered at the hands of White.

He had been living in Parkend Road for six weeks at the time of the attack with his pregnant wife Alison, who comes from the Forest of Dean.

White had only been married for three months when he subjected his victim to the stranger rape in a dark alleyway.

She was walking down Asylum Lane, now Royal Lane near Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, when White, pounced on her and dragged her to a waste ground where he raped her and forced her to perform an indecent act on him.

The woman, who is slim and petite, told the court: "It felt as if I was being thrown about while he was deciding what to do. I was being rolled like a doll.

"I thought I was going to die. There's no question about it. I believed I was going to die - and I thought I was going to be raped.

"He kept saying not to look at his face, that he would kill me if I looked at him."

The jury of six men and six women unanimously found White guilty of three charges - including raping and indecently assaulting her.

The victim, who was in the public gallery, mouthed her thanks to jurors as they filed out of court.

Outside she said she was "utterly relieved" that the case was over.

Judge Tabor adjourned for psychiatric reports but said he was likely to pass a life term when White is sentenced on January 4.

At an earlier hearing, at Stroud Magistrates, it was reported that White had an unhealthy interest of women in uniform and a history of raping strangers.

Considered as a danger to women he was moved to secure mental hospital Broadmoor in 2003 on the grounds of public protection as even behind bars he could not be prevented from acting on his sick urges.

During the hearing, it was reported that the psychopath raped a probation officer, female librarian and indecently assaulted a female member of the canteen staff while in custody. He also now only has one ear left after it is believed the left one was torn off in a prison fight in 2002.

White has also mutilated himself. While in custody, before this trial, he cut off one of his nipples with a razor.

At the start of the current investigation to convict him of rape a psychiatric report was prepared in February this year.

The report showed him to have an extensive history of an unhealthy interest in women.

The sinister character was also discharged from Broadmoor this year because doctors regarded him as an 'untreatable psychopath.'

After the case, Acting Superintendent Neil Kelly said: "We are absolutely delighted with the verdicts.

"This man John White is a serial rapist. He is a dangerous man who deserves to spend his life incarcerated."