Man dubbed ‘Hilton Predator’ arrested in KwaZulu-Natal
Police have arrested a KwaZulu-Natal man nicknamed the 'Hilton Predator' after allegations of sexual offences going back almost two decades, and he is due in court today.
A man known as the “Hilton Predator” was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning, according to The Citizen. Police confirmed the arrest. The man is due to be brought before the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court later today.
The Citizen said it knows the suspect’s name but has not published it. The charges he will face have not yet been confirmed, so the court appearance will be the first sign of what he is formally accused of.
Allegations over almost two decades
The arrest follows claims stretching back nearly 20 years. These include allegations of sexual offences involving minors, according to The Citizen.
Private investigator Brad Nathanson, who has been looking into the matter, said the alleged conduct became more serious over time. He claims it began with unwanted explicit images and later grew to allegations of statutory rape and date rape. He also claims the man was active in the Hilton area for almost two decades.
Nathanson gave credit to a young woman who was 15 when the alleged incident with the suspect took place. He said her decision to speak up helped bring the matter to light, and that the man would probably have carried on without consequences if she had stayed silent.
How the case has grown
Nathanson said 78 more women have come forward since the story first became public. The Citizen’s earlier reports described the number of women coming forward rising over time, and also described allegations involving schoolgirls.
Earlier coverage also reported that a criminal complaint opened in 2017 had been reopened. Investigators were also said to be looking at new allegations under the Sexual Offences Act.
What happens next
The case is still developing, and none of the allegations have been tested in court. Like any accused person, the man is presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise.
- He is expected in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court today.
- The exact charges have not been confirmed.
- Police and the courts will decide how the matter proceeds from here.
Parents and families in the Midlands area will be watching closely to see which charges are put to the man and how the case moves forward.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
