Officers who helped catch a sex attacker responsible for a reign of terror in Medway and elsewhere in Kent have been recognised for the efforts by the Chief Constable.

A total of 28 officers worked to solve 47 assaults and robberies across the area, all carried out by Chatham man John Guscott, who was given a life sentence.

Guscott, of Kemp Close Chatham, mostly targeted women as they walked alone in Medway and other parts of Kent over an 11-month period.

Chief Constable Alan Pughsley said: “It is an honour to be able to commend those who go above and beyond the call of duty to help others.

“Every day officers put themselves in danger to protect and support some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“Everyone who received an award has made a significant contribution to make Kent an even safer place to live.”

About half of Guscott’s offences were sexual assaults, one-quarter were robberies and many of the rest were assaults with the victims ranging in age from 13 to 88.

Five offences involving five women were committed on January 13, 2014, in the space of two hours – three of robbery, one of exposure and one of sexual assault.

On several occasions he stole phones and kept them to use, but otherwise his offending was random with no pattern.

“One woman was sexually assaulted in front of her two-year-old child while another had a heart attack as a result of her ordeal and was in hospital for several days.

While detectives regarded him as “forensically aware” he slipped up when carrying out a serious sexual assault on a woman in Riverside Country Park in Gillingham on October 27, 2014, and stole Tesco vouchers from her purse.

They were found by a dog walker and examinations found they had Guscott’s fingerprints which matched those from a previous drink-drive offence.

Witnesses recalled seeing his Vauxhall Combo van and investigations linked its movements to previous offences.

Searches of his property found several pairs of gloves – some victims remember him wearing just one – hoodies and a yellow T-shirt matching descriptions.

Two balaclavas, as well as a mobile phone stolen from a woman Guscott had robbed in an alley in Woodlands Road, Gillingham, on August 12, 2014, were also recovered.

Guscott was told he would serve 12-and-a-half years before being considered for release and the 43-year-old steel fixer will be on licence for the rest of his life.

Those who got commendations were: DCI Ian Humpheryes; DI Richard Vickery; DS Paul Fewtrell; DS Chris Greenstreet; DS Chris Owen; DS Andrew Dampier; Act DS Richard Allingham, DC Murray Tester; DC Karen Caulfield; DC Mark Tyler; PC Sanj Tanday; PC Roberto Capozzi; PC Daniel Hinrich; PC Carol Stratford; PC Ian Brattle
Police staff employees; Christine Potts; Trevor Fleming; Dave Van Walwyk; Richard Collins; Leonard Johnston; Andy Chapman; Mark Tyman and member of the public, Ralston Rogers.

Several other officers also received commendations but declined publicity over the matter.