THE man arrested by police hunting the so-called Trophy Rapist will appear in crown court next week accused of a series of sex attacks against women and children.

Railworker Antoni Imiela, 48, of Appledore, Kent, appeared before magistrates on Saturday charged with nine counts of rape in connection with the attacks across the South-East.

Mr Imiela, originally from Newton Aycliffe, in County Durham, was remanded in custody until next Monday when he is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court for a preliminary hearing.

The defendant, in a grey polo neck shirt, was driven to court in a people carrier with blacked out windows, escorted by three police cars.

During the ten-minute hearing, he spoke only to give his name and address. He answered "Yes" when asked if he understood each count of rape put to him.

Detective Superintendent Mark Warwick, of Thames Valley Police, who has led Operation Orb, the investigation into the sex attacks, was in court to hear the charges put.

The charges were: November 15 last year, the rape of a girl under 16 in Ashford; July 1 this year, the rape of a girl under 16 in Bracknell, Berks; July 11 this year, the rape of a woman in Redhill, Surrey; July 11 this year, the rape of a woman at Putney, London; July 16 this year, the rape of a woman in Woking, Surrey; August 6 this year, the rape of a woman in Wimbledon, London; August 7 this year, rape of a woman in Epsom, Surrey; Sept 6 this year, rape of a girl under 16 in Woking, Surrey; and October 25 this year, rape of a girl under 16 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Chairman of the bench Tony White made an order that no photograph, image or e-fit of the defendant, or e-fit in connection with Operation Orb be printed in the Press. Mr Imiela was refused bail.

Two uniformed police officers and two plain clothed detectives working on Operation Orb accompanied Imiela into the glass-fronted dock.

Imiela, who was charged on Friday night, was covered in a blanket as he walked in and out of the court building.

He was driven away to an undisclosed location shortly after 10am. Afterwards, Det Supt Warwick said the investigation was "ongoing".