Harjit Singh was jailed for six years for attempted rape and trespass with intent to commit a sexual act at Kingston Crown Court earlier this week after he pleaded guilty to the offences last month.
"Singh is a predator who targeted a lone and vulnerable woman in broad daylight and he displayed a sense of arrogance as he carried out his attack without fear of being caught," said Detective Constable David Fall of the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command at Scotland Yard on Tuesday after the sentence was pronounced.
As the woman entered her block of flats, Singh followed her through the communal door and she took the lift up to her property while Singh took the stairs.
Singh then ambushed the woman on the landing as she opened her front door and pushed her inside and forced her into her bedroom and tried to rape her.
The police was called after neighbours were alerted. Singh was arrested at the scene.