Imiela (centre) was easy going to work for, Mr Court said.

Russell Court worked with Imiela for about six months in Reading and, at first, said the 49-year-old seemed like "just one of the boys".

He described Imiela - who was a safety controller - as relaxed and easy going.

But Mr Court soon saw a different side to his boss - when Imiela bragged of his visits to young prostitutes.

And he said he felt sick when news broke that Imiela was accused of attacking a string of women across the south of England.

Russell Court worked with Antoni Imiela for about six months

Mr Court said: "I was just pretty gob smacked when it came out.

"I felt quite sick to be honest - that you work with someone for that amount of time and not know."

Mr Court met Imiela, from Appledore, Kent, at rail engineering firm Wynnwith, carrying out maintenance contracts across the South East.

Mr Court said Imiela began to lose concentration at work about three weeks before he was arrested.

He said: "He was going over work we had already done, forgetting things we had already done.

"It just became as if his mind was somewhere else."

Mr Court gave evidence at Imiela's trial at Maidstone Crown Court.