The husband of the M25 rapist Antoni Imiela’s first victim has said he is ‘over the moon’ the ‘evil predator’ has died.
Sheila Jankowitz, was subjected to a savage attack by the rapist in the early hours of Christmas Day in 1987.
Her husband, Erwin Jankowitz, 54, said: ‘I am over the moon because he does not get to go to the parole board and try and get freedom.
‘Instead he’s gone down to the hot place.’
Imiela died at Wakefield Prison yesterday at the age of 63 after suffering heart problems.
Sheila Jankowitz, pictured, was M25 rapist Antoni Imiela’s first victim. She was attacked behind her home in Forest Hill, south-east London
Her husband, Erwin Jankowitz (pictured), has said he is ‘over the moon’ the ‘evil predator’ has died in HMP Wakefield at the age of 63
He became known as the M25 rapist after being convicted of the rape of nine women and girls in London, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Birmingham between 1987 and 2002.
He was given seven life sentences with a minimum term of eight years in 2004 for attacking eight women and a 10-year-old girl in the areas linked by the famous motorway.
Mr Jankowitz feared the predator – who never showed any remorse for his grotesque crimes – would be free to attack more young girls and women after being released.
He added: ‘I feel a sense of immense relief, I can close the door completely and he can never come back to haunt us ever again, I can close the door finally.
‘I think this is justice for everybody, especially for his victims who are still alive today, my wife sadly died, but it must be such a tremendous relief to those young women who he effectively tortured.’
Mr Jankowitz was Imiela’s first victim and he dragged her behind the couple’s flat in Forest Hill, south-east London.
The vile sex attacker punched her repeatedly, threatened her with a brick, said he would kill her and subjected her to a disturbing assault.
Antoni Imiela (pictured) became known as the M25 rapist after raping nine woman and girls between 1987 and 2002 in London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Berkshire, all connected by the motorway
Imiela (pictured) was given seven life sentences with a minimum term of eight years in 2004. Erwin Jankowitz added: ‘I think this is justice for everybody, especially for his victims who are still alive today’
Mr Jankowitz had gone out looking for her after they’d had an argument at the local pub and walked within a few feet of where the attack was taking place.
She heard her husband’s footsteps on the drive but was unable to call out because Imiela pressed his hand over her mouth and threatened to smash her head in if she screamed.
Imiela’s DNA was linked to the 1987 attack more than two decades later by detectives.
In a tragic twist Sheila Jankowitz was murdered in her native South Africa in 2006 and never got to see justice done, but her family bravely fought for justice and he was convicted for her rape in 2012.
The Prison Service confirmed Imiela’s death, which is not being treated as suspicious.
A spokeswoman said: ‘HMP Wakefield prisoner Antoni Imiela died in custody on Thursday March 8 2018.
‘As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.’
Imelia had served less than 14 years in prison for his crimes.
The former railway worker would them and threaten them with knives before raping them.
It emerged in January that Imiela, of Appledore, near Ashford in Kent, was being considered for release by the Parole Board.
Face of a sex beast: Antoni Imelia is pictured left with his wife Christine on their wedding day
M25 rapist: Imelia is pictured in police custody after he was arrested on suspicion of rape
The 63-year-old (pictured under blanket outside Maidstone Crown Court) became known as the M25 rapist after being convicted of the rape of nine women and girls in London, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and Hertfordshire