Wealthy businessman admits rush hour prowler attacks

A wealthy businessman - who was dubbed the Rush Hour Prowler - has admitted being responsible a string of sex attacks on women and girls as young as eight.

Kevin Bond, 51, a company director and former nightclub manager, faces jail after pleading guilty to 14 sexual assaults, including three against children.

But detectives have appealed for more of his victims to come forward in the belief that he could have been responsible for at least 26 attacks.

Bond had a habit of pouncing on his victims and groping them during either the morning or evening rush hour at various locations across south east London.

The attacks always took place on a weekday and never on a weekend and on one day in particular, he assaulted a 13 year old and two women in their twenties in just 35 minutes.

His first attack is thought to have taken place in October 2016 when he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl as she walked along a street in Orpington, Kent.

A string of attacks then took place in nearby areas over the next year and Bond was arrested in January after being identified through CCTV footage that captured him running away from one of the incidents.

He was subsequently picked out by a number of his victims during ID parades.

Bond initially denied carrying out the attacks and was due to stand trial next month, but changed his plea when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Furphy of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation for Lewisham police, said: “We are aware that there might be further victims who have not yet spoken to police.

“If you are a victim, or know someone who has been a victim of a sexual assault, I can assure you your information will be treated with strict confidence and sensitivity and we can also access specialist support where needed.”

Radhia Karaa, district crown prosecutor at CPS London South, said: “Kevin Bond carried out a series of sexual assaults on young women including children in south-east London.

“The prosecution case built against him included a range of evidence such as witness accounts and CCTV footage. I hope this conviction brings some closure to his victims.”

Bond, who was married lived in a £700,000 home in Chislehurst, but the property was put on the market in February weeks after he was arrested and charged.