This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6036013.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Surrender plea to serial rapist | Surrender plea to serial rapist |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Detectives hunting one of the UK's worst serial rapists have made a direct appeal to him to give himself up. | Detectives hunting one of the UK's worst serial rapists have made a direct appeal to him to give himself up. |
| He has been linked to 98 offences involving the elderly in south-east London since 1990 and police believe he has a connection to the Brighton area. | |
| While he targets mainly women aged between 68 and 93, officers believe he has also carried out 10 attacks on men. | While he targets mainly women aged between 68 and 93, officers believe he has also carried out 10 attacks on men. |
| A reward of £40,000 has been offered for information leading to the attacker's arrest and conviction. | A reward of £40,000 has been offered for information leading to the attacker's arrest and conviction. |
| Psychologists have described the attacker as a gerontophile - someone who is sexually attracted to old people. | Psychologists have described the attacker as a gerontophile - someone who is sexually attracted to old people. |
| Tests on DNA samples have linked him to the Windward Islands in the Caribbean and detectives are due to travel there to make a further appeal. | Tests on DNA samples have linked him to the Windward Islands in the Caribbean and detectives are due to travel there to make a further appeal. |
| You know that this has to stop and you know that you have to come forward Det Supt Simon Morgan | You know that this has to stop and you know that you have to come forward Det Supt Simon Morgan |
| He has mentioned Brighton to victims and police believe he may have a connection with that area. | He has mentioned Brighton to victims and police believe he may have a connection with that area. |
| Det Supt Simon Morgan said he believed the attacker had a "conscience" from the way he has responded to his victims' pleas. | Det Supt Simon Morgan said he believed the attacker had a "conscience" from the way he has responded to his victims' pleas. |
| "He does have a conscience, we've seen that from the way that he has behaved when victims have challenged him. | "He does have a conscience, we've seen that from the way that he has behaved when victims have challenged him. |
| "He knows this is wrong and he knows that it has to stop and it will stop and he has to come forward." | "He knows this is wrong and he knows that it has to stop and it will stop and he has to come forward." |
| In a direct appeal to the attacker, he said: "You know that this has to stop and you know that you have to come forward and hand yourself in to police." | In a direct appeal to the attacker, he said: "You know that this has to stop and you know that you have to come forward and hand yourself in to police." |
| Police believe the man has raped four victims and sexually assaulted 24 others during a total of 98 break-ins. | Police believe the man has raped four victims and sexually assaulted 24 others during a total of 98 break-ins. |
| The attacks have been concentrated in areas such as Shirley in Croydon, Forest Hill, Orpington, Coulsdon and Warlingham. | The attacks have been concentrated in areas such as Shirley in Croydon, Forest Hill, Orpington, Coulsdon and Warlingham. |
| He targets elderly victims at home alone and police believe he may have been walking the street looking for potential victims. | He targets elderly victims at home alone and police believe he may have been walking the street looking for potential victims. |
| He is described as a black man in his late 30s, of athletic build and between 5ft 10in and 6ft 2in tall. | He is described as a black man in his late 30s, of athletic build and between 5ft 10in and 6ft 2in tall. |
| He tends to wear balaclavas, all-in-one outfits similar to a motorcyclist and at times a hooded top. | He tends to wear balaclavas, all-in-one outfits similar to a motorcyclist and at times a hooded top. |
| He has revealed to victims his mother died in 2000, a clue which has helped police to narrow down their list of suspects. | He has revealed to victims his mother died in 2000, a clue which has helped police to narrow down their list of suspects. |
| Some 21,500 potential "persons of interest" were originally identified during the inquiry codenamed Operation Minstead with almost 10,000 so far eliminated. | Some 21,500 potential "persons of interest" were originally identified during the inquiry codenamed Operation Minstead with almost 10,000 so far eliminated. |