The Trial
"I have no doubt that you are a very evil man capable of committing heinous crimes." Judge Peter Rook
On 3rd March 2011, Delroy Grant appeared at Woolwich Crown Court to face 29 charges, ranging from rape, indecent assault and burglary, from 1992 to 2009. He denied all counts, having previously pleaded not guilty at his hearing held at the Old Bailey.
The jury heard that during Grant’s initial arrest he suggested to the police they have the wrong man and should be arresting his eldest son, from his first marriage. It was clear that Grant had awareness of the number of breakthroughs in forensics and DNA. He was hoping that his son would share the same DNA and instead be convicted for his crimes. The jury were told that Grant’s DNA proves a perfect match to the DNA samples found at the crime scenes.
Grant’s first wife, Janet Watson, was put in the witness box to hear the shocking revelation that Grant believed he was being framed by her. He alleged that Janet stole semen and saliva from him in 1977 and that after the marriage ended his DNA was stored at a hospital by a male friend. He went on to say that fifteen years later his wife, out of malice, gave the DNA to someone else, to frame Grant for a string of burglaries across South-East London.
It was a startling web of lies, because in the 70s the technique to recover DNA from semen and saliva hadn’t been invented. It showed the jury what a desperate man would do to avoid punishment. Paul Laidlaw QC prosecuting told Grant that “we are already beginning to see that your account falls apart when it is subjected to the most gentle of examinations".
While his fingerprints were being taken in the police station it was revealed in court that he arrogantly remarked, “I don't know why you're bothering, I always wear gloves". He took such lengths to avoid detection during his 17-year crime spree, that not one of his fingerprints was ever detected.
The jury heard that on the night of his arrest the police found in his Vauxhall Zafira, a crowbar, blue cagoule, fleece, torch, and woolly hat. These were all items linked to crimes carried out by the Night Stalker. To add to this, the police explained that he was wearing a burglar’s kit of two pairs of jeans, two pairs of boxer shorts, three T-shirts and shoes but no socks. This would have allowed him to change appearances quickly, vital in helping him hide his tracks on CCTV footage.
The evidence was damning. On 24th March 2011, the jury found Grant guilty on all 29 charges. Police still believed he may have been responsible for another 600 attacks. Judge Peter Rook sentenced Grant to 27 years in jail and gave him four life sentences.