TEENAGE rapist Reece Davies is today facing a long stretch behind bars after he was spotted by sharp-eyed detectives trawling closed circuit television.

Officers saw footage of a man using a cashpoint machine in Ipswich town centre who matched the description of a 51-year-old woman’s attacker.

The images, which were captured before the attack, led to further enquiries that trailed back to the teenager.

The early morning rape occurred in a dirt track between houses in Wroxham Road.

Davies, who turned 19 today, had earlier got into a taxi which was taking the woman home after a night out. The pair were unknown to each other.

Davies pleaded guilty to rape when he appeared before Judge Roderick Newton at Ipswich Crown Court.

After the hearing, Acting Detective Superintendent Stuart McCallum said: “The fact that Mr Davies has pleaded guilty is a tribute to both the courage of the victim, and the tenacity of the officers and staff who worked on the investigation from the outset.

“I would like to thank them for their hard work, as well as the support of the community, and the witnesses that came forward.

“The viewing of CCTV was critical line of enquiry, so much so we put specialist staff on that.

“Used appropriately CCTV is a wonderful weapon to assist us in the combating of crime.

“In my book rape is pretty much as serious an offence as you can get.”

Davies was captured by Ipswich Borough Council’s CCTV when he used Sainsbury’s cash machine in Upper Brook Street on the night of the attack.

Mr McCallum said: “We were fairly happy we had got an image of our man and knew who he was.”

Davies was arrested at The Foyer, in Star Lane, Ipswich, where he had been living since November 2007.

The arrest came four days after the rape, which occurred on July 17.

Around 20 detectives, civilian staff and specialist rape support workers had worked on the inquiry.

Officers had worked their way back along the route the taxi had taken, checking CCTV from shops along Cliff Lane, the industrial estate off Landseer Road, and other premises in Duke Street.

They then trailed back into the town centre viewing as much footage as they could find.

The recycling centre worker is currently remanded in custody until sentencing, which is due to take place at Ipswich Crown Court in the week commencing December 19.