Detectives hunting one of Britain's worst serial rapists are calling on him to hand himself into police.

The attacker has committed 98 offences in the past 16 years, including rape, indecent assault and burglary.

All the crimes have been committed against the elderly in their own homes at night.

Police believe the man has "significant" links to Brighton and are keeping an "open mind" about whether he lived, worked or has family in the city.

None of the offences have taken place in the city but police said the attacker has talked about Brighton to his victims.

Speaking at a Press conference held yesterday at Brighton Police Station, Detective Superintendent Simon Morgan, of the Metropolitan Police, appealed directly to the rapist.

He said: "You know what you are doing is wrong. You know you must come forward and hand yourself in to police."

All the offences have taken place in the Warlingham, Coulsdon, Forest Hill and Shirley districts of south London, all areas described by Det Supt Morgan as "en route" to Brighton.

He said: "He has linked himself to Brighton through conversation. He has consistently told victims he needs to get to Brighton.

"We are keeping an open mind about him living in Brighton."

His victims ages range from 68 to 93 and include ten men, one of whom was indecently assaulted.

Det Supt Morgan said: "We are asking people in Brighton to think laterally about this and report anything they might know."

He said he was working closely with Sussex Police to find the man described as a "gerontophile", someone who seeks sexual gratification from the elderly.

DNA testing has pinpointed the attacker's heritage to the Windward Islands in the Caribbean.

Police believe his handling of the elderly suggests he may have worked in a care home or looked after an elderly relative.

He is described as a black male with an athletic build who is between 5ft 10in and 6ft 2in tall and 30 to 40 years old.

He has a round face, broad nose, large lips and a well spoken, soft voice. He drives a motorbike and has told victims his mother died in 2000.

Det Sup Morgan said he was last linked to an attack in February 2005 but October was the month he was most likely to strike.

He said: "There is a possibility he is no longer in the country."

One of his victims, an 88-year-old woman, was raped twice in her home and recently died having lived in agony since the attack.

Det Sup Morgan said: "He is a vicious man. It is as simple as that."

The attacker has struck at varying rates during the past 16 years.

Police have confirmed 11 offences took place in 1992 followed by a period of inactivity between 1993 and 1996.

In 1997 he began re-offending and in 1998 carried out 26 crimes followed by 21 in 1999.

The rate of offending fell once again between 2000 and 2001 before resuming in 2002 and continuing until 2005.

Det Sup Morgan said there could be various reasons he stopped offending for certain periods. He said: "It could be he was in a stable relationship and managing to control his urges."

Anyone with information about the rapist should call 0208 721 4640. There is a £40,000 reward on offer.