A 52-year-old full-time carer has appeared in court today charged with a series of rapes and indecent assaults on elderly people over the last 17 years.

Delroy Grant appeared at Greenwich Magistrates’ Court, a day after he was arrested by detectives hunting a sex attacker dubbed the Night Stalker.

Mr Grant, from Brockley, southeast London, was charged with five rapes, six indecent assaults, two burglaries, eight burglaries with violence and one burglary with intent to rape, dating from between October 1992 and May this year. Twelve of the offences related to a three month period between June and August 1999, according to court papers.

Wearing a white tracksuit and appearing relaxed, Mr Grant spoke aloud only to confirm his name, age and address.

District Judge Angus Hamilton remanded him into police custody until Thursday when he is due to appear in court again.

Detectives from Operation Minstead arrested Mr Grant as he returned to his car in Shirley, southeast London, yesterday morning.

Operation Minstead was set up to find the man known as the Night Stalker, who targeted men and women aged up to 93 across South London, breaking into their homes and subjecting them to horrific ordeals of up to four hours.

The incidents took place in clusters in South and southeast London, including Dulwich, Orpington, Norwood, Downham, Lee, Croydon, West Wickham and Bickley.

Striking up to nine times a week, the attacker has eluded police for 17 years despite a huge manhunt which involved sending officers to the Caribbean and detectives offering a £40,000 reward.

The Night Stalker is known to have attacked at least 108 times, although more recent assaults were not publicised and, according to reports, that total may be closer to 200.

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