Woman, 93, tells of her rape ordeal

A woman of 93 today told of her four-hour ordeal at the hands of Britain's most prolific sex attacker.

She is one of 84 victims of a rapist who has been attacking elderly women for the last 12 years in London.

The woman, known as Rose White to protect her identity, was raped twice in her home in Orpington in August 1999.

She said: "I heard a sound in the hallway and the next thing I knew there was a hooded man at the foot of my bed. He put his hands around my neck and said, 'Don't scream and you won't be hurt'."

Rose told The Times that she passed out after the first assault and begged him to leave before he attacked her again. She was taken to hospital with internal injuries. Rose added: "That man did awful things to me. I still have terrible mental and psychological scars to show for it."

The attacker has also struck in Forest Hill, Dulwich, Croydon, and Sidcup as well as in Warlingham, Surrey.

Operation Minstead was set up to catch the man, who is believed to be about 35 and possibly of mixed race. Police have direct evidence of 84 rapes but believe the true figure will be closer to 200 sex attacks and robberies once they have completed enquiries.