A CARER accused of being the Night Stalker, a serial rapist who targeted elderly victims across south London, said while in custody that he would rather admit his offences than go to court, a jury heard today.

Delroy Grant, of Brockley Mews, Brockley, denies carrying out a string of burglaries and sex attacks on men and women across south east London over 17 years.

The 53-year-old’s alleged offences relate to 18 incidents in Beckenham, Bromley, Orpington, Shirley, Croydon and Forest Hill between 1992 and 2009.

Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court, civilian officer Kevin Madjid said he was called by Grant to his cell at Lewisham police station at around 7.30am on November 16 in 2009, the day after his arrest.

Mr Madjid said: “I spoke to the detainee who immediately asked to speak with his solicitor.

“The detainee mentioned officers were completing further investigations and may need to take him to court.

“He said he would rather admit to any offences than go to court and be stuck back in a police station.”

The court heard that when Grant was taken into custody, he was “quietly spoken” and did not mention that a torch had been planted on him, as his defence claimed earlier today.

Details also emerged about items recovered from Grant’s Vauxhall Zafira, which the jury heard included a dark blue cagoule, a black jacket, two pairs of shoes, three hats, metal pliers, a hammer and a crowbar.

Earlier the court was told Grant was a carer for his wheelchair-bound wife Jennifer, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

Father-of-seven Grant denies 16 counts of burglary, two attempted burglaries, three rapes, one attempted rape, six indecent assaults and one sexual assault.

The trial continues.