A rapist who police believe could strike again telephoned his victim's mother on her stolen mobile phone within an hour of his attack and told her "I have raped your daughter".

The 26-year-old woman had been power-walking from the bottom of Wimbledon Common, through Wimbledon Village at 4.30pm on July 11. She stopped for 10 minutes at the junction of Wildcroft Road and Telegraph Road where she watched children playing.

The woman, who wore a yellow T-shirt, set off again and was about 250 metres into a wooded area off Roehampton Lane when she heard somebody running behind her. She stepped to her right to let the person pass when she was hit from behind by her attacker who dragged her 25 ft through low undergrowth to a fence by Seaton Close where he raped her.

The man who was said to be tanned and smelly and spoke with a Geordie accent went through the bag his victim was carrying and removed the phone. He also took £10 which she had offered him to make him go away.

The victim's ordeal has led her to leave London.

DCI Gary Richardson of the serious crime unit who is leading the investigation said: "Within an hour the suspect phoned the victim's mother and said he had raped her daughter. The mum was distraught and called another family member who called the phone and the man confirmed he had committed the rape.

"This is a very blase approach, if you were going to rape someone you would've gone to the left where there's more cover."

Police are now linking the attack to the rape of a 52-year-old woman on Wimbledon Common at 12.15pm on August 6.

The woman, who had been walking her dogs along Wimbledon Parkside, was raped at knife-point by the man who had grabbed her forcefully from behind and frog-marched her 200 metres across a bridle-way into secluded woodland on Wimbledon Common.

A witness travelling on a passing bus saw the woman for several seconds but assumed she had collapsed and had difficulty walking.

Mr Richardson added: "Both these women thought they were going to die. I think there's every chance he could do this again if he's not caught.

"We're looking for any other people who've been victims of rape, indecent assault or indeed people who've seen something suspicious in the area."

Mr Richardson said while the crimes were alarming the area is generally safe.

Call the incident room at Earlsfield Police Station on 020 8247 8275 or Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.