Wealthy businessman unmasked as 'Rush Hour Prowler' who targeted women and girls in year-long campaign of assaults

A wealthy businessman has been unmasked as a sexual predator known as the Rush Hour Prowler who targeted young women and girls in a year-long campaign of assaults.

Kevin Bond carried out random attacks in daylight on the streets of south-east London, groping his unsuspecting victims before dashing away.

The 51-year-old, who was the manager of the Club 34 nightspot in Croydon and previously ran his own management consultancy, sexually assaulted one girl who was just eight years old, Woolwich crown court heard.

As the hunt for the attacker intensified and detectives linked the assaults, he was dubbed the Rush Hour Prowler for his habit of striking between 8am and 10am and in the evening at around 5pm. Bond first struck in October 2016, sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl as she walked along a street in Orpington. Over the next year he preyed on victims in different areas of south-east London, often targeting girls as they walked to school.

Bond was finally captured in January after being identified from CCTV footage showing him fleeing the scene of one of the attacks. He was initially charged with two attacks and insisted that he was not the sexual predator and that it was a case of mistaken identity.

But after detectives lined up victims for identity parades, Bond admitted 14 separate sexual assaults between October 2016 and last November. He is in custody and will be sentenced next month.

Met police detectives, who initially attributed 26 attacks to the Rush Hour Prowler, today said they believe more of Bond’s victims have yet to come forward. His youngest victim, the eight-year-old girl, was attacked in Lewisham between 8.20am and 8.50am on November 13 last year.

Bond sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl in Herne Hill on September 18 last year and attacked five different 13-year-olds in Lewisham, Orpington, Blackheath and Lee. On September 28 last year, he pounced on a 12-year-old in Lee during the morning rush hour. Later, during the evening rush hour in Greenwich, he attacked a 13-year-old.

On October 5 last year, Bond struck three times in the space of 35 minutes in Blackheath, groping a 13-year-old girl before attacking two women in their twenties.

In a bid to catch the predator, the Met released CCTV showing Bond dashing away from an attack on a 15-year-old girl in Brockley at around 8.30am on November 22 last year.

He was also caught on camera fleeing from one of the October 5 attacks in Blackheath, and detectives drew up an e-fit of the attacker. Police also stepped up patrols around schools and in streets where they believed the prowler could be lurking.

Following Bond’s guilty pleas, Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Furphy, 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 has a £675,000 home in Chislehurst, has pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and three charges of sexual assault on a child under 13. He will be held in custody until sentencing, due on July 9.