A BRAVE TV soap director has told how she helped catch the former fire chief from Radcliffe who became a serial rapist.

But today as George Heyes faced a life behind bars, Joanne Nelson admitted: "I'm lucky he didn't attack me."

Heyes, aged 44, a former acting Assistant Divisional Officer with Greater Manchester Fire Service was convicted of one rape and two indecent assaults by a Manchester Crown Court jury yesterday.

The disgraced former fireman, of Bamburgh Close, Radcliffe, had already admitted one rape and indecent assault, after DNA evidence showed the chances that someone else had committed the attacks were a "billion to one."

That vital evidence had been obtained after Heyes gave a mouth swab following his arrest in December 1999 after he had exposed himself to Mrs Nelson.

The brave 30-year-old woman chased Heyes along the banks of Entwistle Reservoir after he indecently exposed himself, using her mobile phone to dial 999 for help and alert a local pub owner.

Today police chiefs admitted her courageous chase, leading to Heyes' arrest, had been the vital break-through in bringing the serial rapist to justice.

But as Joanne, who works as an assistant director for Brookside, relived her nightmare ordeal she said: "I feel sick to the stomach thinking about it.

"He's sick and dangerous. You couldn't print what I really think about him. He's a pervert. I'm just glad that he's been caught now because I dread to think what could have happened in the future

Consolation

"It's so tragic for each of his victims because this is something they're going to have to try to live with. I know I would not be able to cope if something like that happened to me.

"The one consolation is that he's now been caught and he's not going to be able to do anybody any more harm."

Seconds after Heyes had been caught by a pub landlord and a window cleaner following the "flashing" incident, Joanne confronted him at the Strawbury Duck car park.

The plucky woman had to be pulled away from him admitting she wanted to slap his face.

She said: "I remember that when he saw me the colour just drained out of his face. He went as if to talk to me and I just shouted at him 'Don't say a word'."

The sick attack came as she walked around the Bolton beauty spot with her pet dog. As she neared the end of a circuit of the lake Heyes suddenly appeared from behind a tree, touching himself as he walked towards her.

Convicted

She added: "It has affected me. I never used to be wary about going out on my own. Now I'm forever looking over my shoulder. I used to think nothing like that would ever happen to me."

Heyes was convicted of indecent exposure following a two-day trial at Blackburn magistrates in April 2000 after which he was sacked from his £30,000 a year brigade job.

Last night senior investigating officer Det Supt Tony Simister praised Joanne's courage in chasing Heyes.

He added: "I hope she takes a great deal of credit for today's verdicts. I can't help but applaud her for the outcome of her actions."

This week Heyes was back in court after the DNA evidence from the "flashing" linked him to other sex attacks.

Manchester Crown Court heard he was responsible for an 18 month reign of terror in 1996 and 1997 in which young women were targeted.

Lone girls were approached in the dark, grabbed from behind with a hand being placed over their mouths and money demanded. The hooded attacker demanded the victim's name, age and asked if they had boyfriends.

He was found guilty of raping a 16-year-girl and committing indecent assaults on a Manchester girl aged 14 and a Heywood woman aged 26.

Heyes blamed the two attacks he had admitted on stress caused by the break-up of his marriage. He also blamed himself for the death of his father who died during an asthma attack while Heyes was working away.

Yesterday trial judge Mr Justice Penry-Davey deferred sentencing for psychiatric reports to be prepared but warned Heyes he faced the possibility of a life sentence.