A RAILWAY worker accused of being the Trophy Rapist today made a second appearance at Maidstone Crown Court.

Antoni Imiela, of Heathside, Appledore, Ashford, already facing nine charges of raping women and young girls, now faces a further three charges.

He was sent to the crown court by Greenwich magistrates accused of attempted rape, indecent assault and kidnap, all in relation to a 10-year-old girl.

Security was stepped up for today's preliminary hearing in front of Judge David Croft, QC, who was told the Crown would be seeking to add the three new charges to the existing timetable.

Mr Imiela, 48, is scheduled to re-appear at Maidstone on February 18 for a plea and directions hearing. There has been no indication as to how he is likely to plead.

He spoke just once during his brief appearance. He answered “yes” when asked to confirm his name.

German-born Imiela is charged with raping a 10-year-old girl in Ashford on November 15 last year. He is also accused of raping a girl in Bracknell, Berkshire; a woman in Redhill, Surrey; a woman in Putney, south west London, and a woman in Woking, Surrey, in July this year.

The charges also include raping a woman in Wimbledon; a woman in Epsom, Surrey, in August; a girl in Woking in September and a girl in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in October - plus the new charges involving a 10-year-old girl.

Mr Imiela will remain in custody to await his next court appearance.