Police hunt rapist in Caribbean

Police said the attacker often wears motorcycle-type clothing

Detectives hunting one of Britain's worst serial sex attackers have flown to Trinidad to appeal for information.

Scotland Yard has spent more than eight years on the trail of the rapist and burglar, who is believed to have a sexual fixation with the elderly.

He has been linked to 98 offences involving old people in south-east London since 1990.

Forensic investigations in America have shown he originates from the Windward Islands in the Caribbean.

The man has been described as a "gerontophile" - someone who enjoys sexual activity with the elderly. His victims have been aged 68 to 93, with an average age in the 80s.

A reward of £40,000 has been offered for information leading to the attacker's arrest and conviction.

We believe there may be links down the generations between our suspect and the countries of the Caribbean Det Supt Simon Morgan

Detective Superintendent Simon Morgan, who is leading the investigation, said the suspect has periods of "non-offending" which suggest he is not always in the UK.

He said: "We believe there may be links down the generations between our suspect and the countries of the Caribbean.

"We want to appeal for information that may assist in tracing this individual and stop his offending. To date, we know that the offender has periods of non-offending that may suggest that he is not always in the UK."

Mr Morgan added that this did not mean that the suspect was Trinidadian.

He is described as a black man, with a well-spoken soft voice, in his late 30s, and with an athletic build.

The suspect, often seen wearing motorcycle-type clothing, is thought to have knowledge of caring for the elderly because of the way he handles victims.

Evidence from the investigation, codenamed Operation Minstead, also suggests the man may be religious.

On one occasion he declined to steal money from a church collection. He has also stolen a set of rosary beads.

He has revealed to victims his mother died in 2000, a clue which has helped police narrow down the list of suspects.

The suspect has mentioned Brighton to victims and police believe he may have a connection with that area.

His attacks have been concentrated in a series of clusters around south- east London.

These included Forest Hill near the South Circular road, Shirley in Croydon, further east in Orpington and along the A23 and A22 roads in Coulsdon and Warlingham.