Edward Bartley could be back on the streets in months despite having his prison release blocked twice over concerns the serial rapist, who targeted lone women, will strike again
15:57, 10 Oct 2025
A serial rapist coined the 'Battersea Beast' who has had his release blocked twice because of fears he will strike again is making a fresh bid for freedom.
Edward Bartley, 64, was jailed for a terrifying knifepoint assault committed after he had been released early from a 20 year sentence for a campaign of terror against lone women. Bartley was cleared by the Parole Board for a move to open prison in 2020 and again two years later but on both occasions the decision was blocked by the Secretary of State for Justice.
One woman who was just 17 when she was raped by Bartley in 1989 said this week: "Now I'm older I realise how awful this rape was, I've often googled Bartley's name to find out what happened to him and then I found out he only served half of his sentence to be released to attack another innocent girl is unbelievable and was preventable.
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Another of Bartley's victims said: "The public have to be made aware of this man. He can't be allowed to reoffend again and destroy another human being. The evidence overwhelmingly in favour of him reoffending with further extremely horrific crimes against vulnerable women old and young.
“He terrorised me, he is pure evil. He reoffended when he was released last time, how can it be safe to let him out?"
Bartley was jailed in 1992 for 20 years for a three-and-a-half year campaign of terror in which he attacked five lone women in the street in Battersea. Wearing a mask and carrying a knife, he would prowl the streets of south west London at night in search of victims.
He was released in 2004 and three years later raped a 19-year-old in south east London after dragging her off the street at knifepoint and taking her to his flat. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 12 years, making him now eligible for parole.
At 15, he had already admitted 23 burglaries. In 1979, he was given three months' detention for an assault. Four years later he was jailed for five years for robbery. He had tied up and gagged his elderly victim.
A Parole Board spokesperson said: "An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Edward Bartley and is scheduled to take place in November 2025.
"Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community."