AN ELDERLY rapist has died in hospital. Horace Stevens, 87, was jailed for eight years at Maidstone Crown Court after being convicted in November 2000 on four charges of rape and one of indecent assault.

He was serving his sentence in Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey when he was taken ill last week. He was admitted to the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham last Wednesday and died at the weekend.

A Home Office spokeswoman said he had died of natural causes.