An Algerian national carried out a wave of sex attacks on young women within months of arriving in the country, a court heard today.

Mehdi Midani, 27, allegedly committed six sexual assaults and two offences of exposure during a ten-day period in south London.

He was arrested on Monday evening by detectives investigating a series of 'linked' sexual assaults in the Clapham and Brixton areas of south London.

Charged: Mehdi Midani, of no fixed abode, appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court today charged with a string of sex attacks in south London. CCTV released by the Met showed how a man attacked one woman as she tried to get into her London home last month

Midani appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court today via videolink from custody and his words were translated through an Arabic interpreter in court.

Prosecutor Charlotte Chirico told the court Midani is accused of eight offences against lone females between 22 and 31 October.

She said: 'He's only been in the UK for a few months'.

The suspect was wearing a grey T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms and sat with his arms folded throughout the hearing.

The bearded defendant spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and told the court he had no address.

Midani is accused of carrying out a sexual assault on 22 October in Brixton at around 9pm.

He is said to have struck twice within an hour on October 26 in Brixton Hill and Clapham before exposing himself to another alleged victim the same night. The following night he allegedly exposed himself to another woman.

It is claimed he attacked another two victims on 28 October and committed a further assault on 31 October.

Police said all the alleged victims were white women in their twenties or thirties who were walking home alone after dark.

Three of the incidents - two of the assaults and one exposure - were on the same evening within just two hours of each other.

Midani gave no indication of pleas during today's brief hearing.

Map of the assaults: Nine attacks on lone women have been carried out in South London over a 22 day period - Midani has been charged with some but not all of the attacks - he could still be charged with more but police are also investigating whether there is another offender in the area

Look-Chih Wang, defending, made no application for bail and district judge Tim Stone remanded Midani in custody at Brixton prison.

The judge told him he will next appear at Inner London Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on November 18.

Three other men, aged 34, 32 and 30, have also been arrested after nine attacks were carried out over 22 days within a 1.5 mile radius. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.