PENSIONER ATTACKED BY CATSUIT RAPIST

The attacker wears a distinctive all-in-one nylon black Catsuit, gloves and a balaclava.

The pensioner fought him off, suffering injuries to her face, but he escaped with her jewellery, including a diamond engagement ring and two gold bracelets.

A catsuited rapist who prompted Scotland Yard's biggest hunt for a serial sex attacker has struck again, it emerged yesterday.

The rapist who preys on elderly women - some in their 90s - had not been linked to any offences since last October.

But yesterday detectives revealed he had broken into a 78-year-old woman's home on the Kingswood estate in south-east London in the early hours of last Saturday.

Police believe he may also have been behind a break-in at a pensioner's home in Catford last Thursday in which pounds 300 was taken but there was no sexualattack. The attacker is now thought to have broken into the homes of nearly 80 elderly women across south London over the past decade and to have sexually assaulted 26 of those victims.

Three of those were raped and the rest indecently assaulted.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Morgan, heading Operation Minstead the largest single hunt for a serial rapist ever undertaken by Metropolitan Police, said: 'Criminal profilers have told us that he has been able to control his urges.

The Catsuits could be worn to conceal the attacker's identity, avoid leaving DNA or for a sexual thrill.

'There have been gaps where that has happened but then it starts again.'

Detectives fear that now he has begun to offend again after a four-month gap one of his elderly victims may die from the trauma of an attack. According to criminal profilers, the attacker is a 'gerontophile' - someone who enjoys sex with victims over the age of 50.

His oldest victim was 92 and the youngest 68.

More than once victims have persuaded him from rape by talking to him about his mother.

Appealing directly to the attacker, Mr Morgan said: 'You know what you're doing is wrong.

'We believe you need help - how would you feel if someone did this to your mother or a member of your family?'

Seven of the offences have been linked by DNA and the remainder through the methods of the attacker.

He always strikes between midnight and 4am having first watched his victim to make sure they are alone.

He often used a tool from a nearby shed to break in through a rear window and cut telephone lines, turns off electricity or removes light bulbs.