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Father of five charged over Night Stalker serial sex attacks on elderly
Justin Davenport and Peter Dominiczak16 Nov 2009
A man was appearing in court today charged with a series of rapes and indecent assaults in south London dating back 19 years.
Delroy Grant, 52, was arrested by detectives hunting a sex attacker known as the Night Stalker who broke into the homes of his victims. Nearly all were elderly women, one of them was 100. The father of five was charged with five rapes, six indecent assaults and 11 burglaries.
Grant was arrested at around 1am yesterday morning as he drove through Shirley, near Croydon, after a massive police surveillance operation. Detectives and forensic experts are examining his home in Brockley.
He is a full-time carer for his wheelchair bound wife Jennifer, a Jehovah's Witness, who has been suffering from multiple sclerosis for around five years. The couple live with two of their children, aged 20 and 11. Neighbours described him as an amiable “Frank Bruno” type.
Grant has three sons from a previous marriage, aged 33, 30, and 20. It is believed Mrs Grant, a former classroom assistant, has twin girls from a previous relationship.
Scotland Yard launched Operation Minstead to find the Night Stalker who was suspected of carrying out more than 200 rapes, sex attacks and burglaries. In the last nine months he is believed to have carried out around 60 attacks.
The assailant often cut phone wires and removed light bulbs before the attacks which took place in Dulwich, Orpington, Norwood, Downham, Lee, Croydon, West Wickham and Bickley. Victims said the man wore an all-in one black suit, which was thought to be a motorcycle outfit.
