Tow truck driver, 51,who ‘preyed on women as they walked home’ faces court over vile sex attacks

A tow truck driver who allegedly preyed on women as they walked home late at night is due to face court over a string of horrific rapes.

Gregory John Richardson, 51, was arrested in his pyjamas at a home in Epping, north-west Sydney, on Thursday after DNA linked him to a series of vile sex attacks.

He is accused of 14 sexual-based offences over the ‘predator style attacks’ on 12 women aged 14 and 40 between 1989 and 2013.

A tow truck driver (pictured) who allegedly preyed on women as they walked home late at night has faced court over a string of horrific rapes

Gregory John Richardson, 51, was arrested in his pyjamas at a home in Epping, north-west Sydney, on Thursday after DNA linked him to a series of vile sex attacks

Gregory John Richardson, 51, was arrested in his pyjamas at a home in Epping, north-west Sydney, on Thursday after DNA linked him to a series of vile sex attacks

Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec said Richardson was a tow truck driver who preyed on women on the street he didn’t know.

‘It was a complete stranger attack,’ he told reporters outside Burwood Local Court on Friday.

‘People walking about, going about their own business at the railway station, taking their dog for a walk, walking home late at night.’ 

Richardson was arrested by officers from Strike Force Petit after a review of four cold cases which were previously linked by tendency and modus operandi.

Detectives from the Child abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established the strike force in June to re-investigate the historic assaults.

Police are now reexamining a number of other sex attacks in the Ryde area dating back to the 1980s. 

Det Supt John Kerlate said the alleged victims had put the assaults behind them but the arrest had ‘reignited some of those initial feelings’.

‘It was mixed emotions, some of them very relieved, some were grateful of the progress and sadly some of them very emotional,’ he said. 

Richardson (pictured during his arrest) is accused of 14 sexual-based offences over the 'predator style attacks' on 12 women aged 14 and 40 between 1989 and 2013

Richardson (pictured during his arrest) is accused of 14 sexual-based offences over the ‘predator style attacks’ on 12 women aged 14 and 40 between 1989 and 2013

 

 

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk