I’m the Rush Hour Prowler, admits businessman
Former company director pleads guilty to series of sex attacks on women and girls as young as eight
A WEALTHY businessman who was dubbed the Rush Hour Prowler has admitted being responsible for a string of sex attacks on women and girls as young as eight. Kevin Bond, a former company director and nightclub manager, faces jail after pleading guilty to 14 sexual assaults, including three against children under 13.
The 51-year-old admitted striking at various locations across south-east London, groping his unsuspecting victims before running away.
The attacks usually took place between 8am and 10am or around 5pm and always on a weekday rather than a weekend.
On one day in particular, Bond assaulted a 13-year-old and two women in their 20s 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.
Over the next year he struck numerous times, often targeting young girls on their way to school. Bond was finally arrested in January after being identified through CCTV that captured him running away from one of the attacks.
He denied responsibility, insisting it was a case of mistaken identity, but he was subsequently picked out at ID parades by a number of victims. Bond’s youngest victim, who was just eight years old, was attacked last November in Lewisham. He also sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl in the Herne Hill area, and five 13-year-olds. Bond had been due to stand trial next month, but changed his plea when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court, admitting a total of 14 offences between October 2016 and last November.
He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.
Police have been investigating at least 26 reported sex assaults in the south-east London area that took place in similar circumstances. Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Furphy, who led the investigation, said Bond was thought to be responsible for more attacks and appealed for any other victims to come forward.
He said: “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.”
Bond, who was married, lived in a £700,000 home in Chislehurst, Kent, but the property was put on the market in February after he was arrested.