A 26-YEAR-OLD man appeared in court yesterday (May 9) accused of raping and robbing a woman in an Orpington churchyard, along with another rape and robbery.

James Isted, of Tintagel Road, has also been charged with assaulting a police officer in the Orpington area on Tuesday.

Both charges of rape relate to alleged offences in the Orpington area, with one allegedly having occurred in September 2011 and the other in the grounds of All Saints Church, Church Hill, Orpington, at around 1.30pm on Tuesday.

Isted did not enter a plea when he appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Croydon Crown Court on July 8.

An investigation by the Met Police Sapphire unit led to his arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4614.