“Loving grandfather” ousted as serial rapist
A local Bondi grandfather has been ousted by police as a serial rapist - one of the worst in New South Wales.
Following a long 40 years of investigations and using new technology for DNA as well as a shocking 12 crime scenes, Keith “Maggo” Simms has been identified as a serial rapist.
Dubbed “The Beast of Bondi”, Simms is believed to have raped and terrorised more than 30 women in Sydney's eastern suburbs from 1986 to 2001.
He died earlier this year on February 20 at the age of 66.
When Simms was ready to attack a woman, he would wear a balaclava and approach them with a knife, putting a hand across their mouth and threatening to kill them.
It was only in 2016, when police received a weak DNA match to a relative of Simms, that they were eventually able to tie the crimes back to him.
Unfortunately for his victims, Simms died before police were able to question him and get them some form of justice.
His family also had no idea and referred to him as a “loving family man”, and when his wife found out she was shocked.
“His family had no idea at all … we met with his wife and she was absolutely shocked,” Detective Sergeant Shelley Johns, from Strike Force Doreen said, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Sex Crimes squad boss Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said that despite his death, it gives his victims a peace of mind knowing he’s not out there anymore.
“It was important for the victim survivors and that is why we persevered. We wanted to let them know we were not just guessing it was him. It also meant we are not still looking for someone that is still out there,” she said.
“So those women who are walking down the street and are still wondering: Is that him? They now know that person is deceased.”
Images: The Daily Telegraph