A fake Uber driver who cruised the streets looking for women to rape was caught after a victim remembered part of his registration plate.
Police found a rape kit in the back of Graham Head’s car including latex gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava.
Officers also discovered an extendible baton and incapacitating spray when they searched his home in East Sussex, which sits in south east England on the coast of the English Channel, The Sun reported.
Head, 66, had prowled the streets of Brighton hoping to lure potential victims into his Uber cab.
The first incident was reported by a woman in her late teens on August 19, who was dragged into bushes in Hove Park by a man in the early hours of that morning.
She had earlier received a lift from him from Brighton to Hove Park.
He attempted to rape her, but fled the scene when the victim’s mobile phone rang.
Her attacker was described as a 40-50-year-old short man wearing a face mask.
CCTV footage showed the victim approaching a silver Mercedes estate, which was then tracked through city centre CCTV and doorbell footage driving slowly along the road near Hove Park.
On November 18, a woman in her 20s reported waking up in a vehicle, which she believed to be a taxi, to find a man sexually assaulting her.
She had earlier got into what she thought was a taxi taking her from Brighton to Hove.
She managed to escape, called police at around 3.10am and was able to remember three digits of the car’s registration plate.
Within minutes, officers located the vehicle – a silver Mercedes estate – and stopped it in Preston Circus following a short pursuit.
It was being driven by 66-year-old Graham Head, a short man wearing a face mask. Officers then discovered the sinister rape kit.
A mobile phone belonging to the victim was also discovered discarded by the roadside in Chatham Place, Brighton, along the route taken by Head during the pursuit.
Head was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, attempted rape and failing to stop a vehicle when asked to do so.
Investigators linked his vehicle to the August attack and the next day he was further arrested for those offences.
He was subsequently charged with kidnap, attempted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and remanded in custody.
At Hove Crown Court on June 2, Head was found guilty of kidnap, attempted rape and assault by penetration. He has been remanded in custody pending sentence
Detective Constable Elliott Lander from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said: “Graham Head is a predatory offender who gained the trust of these victims by posing as a taxi driver, only to take advantage of vulnerable women in the most abhorrent ways.
“The items found in his car show the callous, premeditated nature of his crimes as he moved through Brighton and Hove looking for potential victims.
“Thanks to the quick-thinking and bravery of these two women, we were quickly able to connect Head to both incidents and bring him to justice. I would like to thank them both for their support during this investigation.
“Without them, this dangerous individual could still be at large. Instead, he has been brought to justice and the streets of Brighton and Hove are safer as a result.
“We believe Head may have further victims who have not yet come forward. If you believe you may have been a victim, or have any information which could help, please contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Cooper. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”
This story originally appeared on The Sun and reproduced with permission