Britain's 'Night Stalker' arrested

London, Nov. 16 (ANI): A British man, who was arrested for allegedly carrying out a series of rapes and indecent assaults on elderly people over the period of last 17 years, will appear in court today to face charges.

"We can confirm a 52-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of this morning in a pre-planned operation. He is currently in custody at a London police station," The Telegraph quoted a Scotland Yard spokesman, as saying.

Dubbed as the Night Stalker, Delroy Grant, 52, from Brockley (south east London), was charged with five rapes, six indecent assaults and 11 burglaries, which took place between 1992 and this year.

The investigation into the night stalker became the Metropolitan Police's biggest ever manhunt and involved investigating attacks and burglaries on the elderly in the south London.

The suspect, believed to be a father of seven, was a full-time carer for his wife Jennifer, who has multiple sclerosis, and lived with her and their children in Brockley.

It is believed that he had carried out a spate of recent attacks, including eight on one day in September.

A full-time surveillance team was set up three weeks ago. The man was arrested returning to his car in Shirley, Croydon, in the early hours of Sunday.

Because of the surge in recent offences, the number of attacks he may now be responsible for is nearer to 200 than the 100 previously stated, according to Scotland Yard sources.

The criminal has a distinctive pattern of behaviour, often disabling telephone lines and fuse boxes before breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. Some of the victims were raped and sexually assaulted.

He was often described as wearing a mask and waking people by shining a torch in their faces. Before the raids, the attacker was believed to hide in the victim's garden checking that the elderly woman was alone.

Often he would ask for money and would chat for hours as if he was trying to establish a relationship with his terrified victim. His youngest victim was 68 and the eldest 93. (ANI)