DELROY GRANT, THE LONDON NIGHT STALKER, BRINGS FEAR ACROSS KENT AND SURREY

Since his arrest in November 2009, Delroy Grant, infamously known as the 'night stalker', has been linked to a disturbing series of criminal acts that spanned nearly twenty years. His actions left a trail of devastation among elderly residents across the regions of south-east London, Kent, and Surrey, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that shocked the community and challenged law enforcement efforts.

Despite maintaining an outward appearance of charm and concern, particularly towards his disabled ex-wife, Grant was a prolific offender whose crimes extended far beyond what initially appeared. He was convicted of a total of 29 offenses, which included 18 burglaries, three counts of rape, one attempted rape, and seven indecent assaults. However, authorities believe the actual number of his crimes is significantly higher, with estimates suggesting over 200 separate incidents. The victims ranged in age from 68 to 89 years old, highlighting the disturbing focus of his predatory activities.

Grant’s criminal activities began in 1991, with his first known offense involving handling stolen goods. The following year, he committed his first sexual assault, marking the start of a long and troubling pattern of abuse. His attacks often involved stalking victims for hours, meticulously planning his break-ins through double-glazed windows, and sometimes engaging in violent assaults while issuing threats to prevent victims from calling the police. His modus operandi was characterized by the use of clothing such as boiler suits, and in some early cases, he employed a motorbike to facilitate his crimes. His targeting of elderly individuals was methodical, with a clear focus on the most vulnerable members of society.

Psychologists who examined Grant concluded that he was a gerontophile—someone with a sexual attraction to older adults. Born in Jamaica, Grant moved to Britain at the age of 16, and his criminal record began with a conviction in 1991 for handling stolen goods. Law enforcement efforts to apprehend him initially proved unsuccessful; police operations in 1999 and 2001 failed to capture him due to misidentifications and lack of concrete evidence. It was only after a renewed and more intensive investigation in 2009, which involved extensive surveillance and forensic analysis, that authorities finally succeeded in linking him to his crimes.

In November 2009, police traced Grant’s car and connected it to the series of offenses, leading to his arrest. The case also shed light on significant police blunders that delayed his capture, allowing him to continue his reign of terror for years and inflict immense suffering on his victims. The lengthy investigation and eventual apprehension of Delroy Grant marked a pivotal moment in the fight against predatory crimes targeting the elderly in London, Kent, and Surrey.