Man 'raped 81-year-old pensioner after following her off the bus'

Balham High Road (Wikimedia Commons/Oxyman )

An 81-year-old woman has been raped by a man who followed her after she got off a bus on a busy high street in London.

A 41-year-old man has been charged with two counts of rape after the woman was dragged to a secluded area in Balham, south London, at about 8.30pm and raped twice.

The woman was taken to hospital and then to a Haven Sexual Assault Referral Centre, where she was supported by specialist officers.

The man has also been charged with one count of kidnap/falsely imprisoning a person with intent to commit sexual offence.

He was due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrate Court this morning.

Detective Inspector Melissa Laremore, from the Met’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Command, said: “My team are keen to trace a male witness seen on Rinaldo Road, Balham on the evening of the incident. He was wearing a jacket with a distinctive American flag design on the back. I would urge him to come forward and contact police.

“In addition to this, the victim's distinctive red Marks and Spencer's jacket went missing after the attack. My investigators are working to trace it in and around the local area as it is of important evidential value. If you have any knowledge of its whereabouts, please get in touch."