Suspect in WA rapes on trial for attack in Britain

The prime suspect in a string of brutal sex attacks in Kings Park more than a decade ago has been charged by police in Britain over the rape of a 16-year-old girl.

The 42-year-old sales manager from Little Hallingbury, Chelmsford, was never charged over the Kings Park crimes.

Three women walking, jogging or cycling alone in or near the park were handcuffed, blindfolded and raped for up to two hours during a 10-month period from October 1989.

The man fell under the police spotlight after he was convicted of a sexually-motivated burglary at a home in Subiaco in January 1992.

He had hidden a condom in each sock and had a vibrator and bottle of lubricant when he broke in.

The District Court judge ruled that he had broken in for some sex-related purpose.

Detectives investigating the Kings Park rapes did not have enough evidence to charge the man but it is understood that he is still a prime suspect.

One detective said the attacker was a real threat to women. The crimes had had a significant impact on women using Kings Park for recreation.

“There was a real fear that they would become victims of crime,” the detective said.

The man, who originally was from Britain, was a delivery driver and lived in Doubleview at the time of the Kings Park rapes. He had numerous girlfriends after he separated from his wife while in WA and moved back to Britain after 2000.

Four senior British investigators came to Perth last month to examine whether the Kings Park crimes had similarities with the attack on the 16-yearold girl, particularly the method.

The Kings Park rapist struck in daylight and quickly immobilised his victims, restrained them with handcuffs, rope, mouth gag and blindfold and threatened them with a knife or screwdriver, then led them through bush and raped them.

Detectives believed the rapist might have stalked the women before striking and considered that other victims might have been reluctant to come forward.

The suspect in the Kings Park rapes has pleaded not guilty to raping the teenager in November behind the Braintree Town Football Club clubrooms. It is alleged that he offered to walk with her to ensure her safety after she left a local nightclub. He has been remanded in custody for trial on June 9.