A man who was living rough in a tent in Valentines Park, Ilford, has been given three life sentences after he raped and strangled popular pensioner Catherine Grosstephan who was found dead in her Theydon Bois home.

Scott Thompson, 24, admitted raping and murdering the 89-year-old and also pleaded guilty to the rape and unlawful wounding of another woman in east London when he appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court earlier today (Friday).

Three rings, each worth about £2,000, which Thompson stole from Mrs Grosstephan's home were later found by police at a pawnbrokers near where he had been living rough.

Thompson was 23 when he attacked a 52-year-old woman, a mutual acquaintance who he had met on about five previous occasions. On April 23 last year he came across the victim at Walthamstow bus station. He was drunk and sat next to her on a bench. When it started to rain he suggested they shelter in a nearby stairwell. Once there he pulled a knife on her and raped her.

After the attack the woman tried to run away but Thompson chased her down the stairs and stabbed her in the arm, back and leg. He also punched her in the face before running off.

A passer-by telephoned for an ambulance and the victim spent five days in Whipps Cross Hospital. Thompson was arrested on the day of the offence by the Metropolitan Police. Initially the victim indicated she did not want to pursue the complaint so Thompson was released on police bail pending further inquiries until June 23.

It was while this offence was being investigated that Thompson raped and murdered Mrs Grosstephan.

She had had tea at a friend's house on the afternoon of May 18 last year and chatted to friends on the telephone when she returned home. Her son-in-law visited her at 10am the next morning after a concerned neighbour told him the downstairs curtains were still drawn; an unusual occurrence.

Mrs Grosstephan was found slumped in her armchair. There were no immediate signs of a break-in and it appeared from the initial circumstances that she had died naturally. However the family then noticed one or two things that raised their concerns.

The patio door keys were missing from their usual place and there was cigarette ash in an ornamental tray. Mrs Grosstephan was a non-smoker and did not allow it in her home.

It was also discovered that three high value gold rings with jewelled settings were missing. A post mortem examination revealed Mrs Grosstephan had been strangled and raped.

Forensic tests provided police with a DNA sample that was matched to Thompson on the national DNA database.Thompson was known to be homeless frequenting the east London and west Essex areas. It turned out that Thompson had been living in a tent in Valentines Park.

Handed over to Essex detectives having been arrested by Metropolitan Police officers, Thompson gave no comment throughout his interviews.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of murder in respect of Mrs Grosstephan and two counts of rape and one count of unlawful wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm in respect of the London offence.

His defence team reminded the court that Thompson was only a young man - the court appearance was on his 24th birthday.

He had been committing offences since he was 16 but had not previously committed violent offences.

The court heard how he had self-harmed since the age of 12 or 13 and from a very young age was adrift from his family spending time between different relatives.

At the time of the offences he was drinking an average of six to nine litres of White Lightening cider every day.

The defence also told the court how a psychiatric report suggested he had a personality disorder and this was a young man who had slipped through the net'.

The defence stated Thompson could not remember committing the offences and was horrified' by what he now knows he did which is why he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Judge Ball said this was another young man before the court whose "conduct was skewered and distorted as a consequence of using drugs and alcohol against a back drop of a difficult life". He added he had "inflicted untold misery upon a decent loving family".

Thompson was sentenced to three life sentences, one for the murder of Catherine Grosstephan, one for her rape and one for the London offences.

He will have to serve a minimum of 29 years before being eligible for parole and will on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

After sentencing Judge Ball spoke of Mrs Grosstephan and her family.

He said she was a "lovely matriarch" who was "leading her family with enthusiasm and pleasure and still got much pleasure from her life".

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Tim Wills said: "Catherine Grosstephan was a much-loved and respected member of her family and the Theydon Bois community. This was a horrendous crime that will live on in the minds of her family for the rest of their lives.

"Scott Thompson was initially difficult to trace as he was living on the streets of east London; but for the support and co-operation of the public, he may not have been arrested for some time, exposing other members of the public to risk.

"This coupled with a thorough investigation meant the quality and quantity of the evidence has given Scott Thompson no choice but to plead guilty and spare Mrs Grosstephan's family any more despair.

"As a result, I'm grateful for the public's assistance I hope today's justice will at least allow Mrs Grosstephan's family to start moving on with their lives and to focus on the many precious memories that I know they cherish."