The mother and step-father of Chessington rapist Robert Richards have been arrested on suspicion of historical rape and sexual abuse.

Richards, 22, raped a pensioner in her 70s leaving her in need of hospital treatment for injuries including a broken hip, vertebrae, jaw, ribs and a bleed on the brain in the violent attack in her own home in October 2013.

But the former labourer was found hanged in his Wandsworth prison cell just days before he was due to be sentenced for his crime.

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It has now emerged his mother June Richards, who has three other children, and her husband Andy were arrested at their home address in Elm Road, Chessington last month.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Two people - aged 47 and 49 - were arrested in the Kingston borough on Thursday, March 5 in relation to allegations of historical rape and sexual abuse.

"Enquiries are ongoing. They have been bailed pending further enquiries until late May."

It is believed the arrests were made following a suicide note left by Richards that also claimed he had been bullied inside prison.

At the time of his death half-brother Matthew Cook, who shared a father with Richards, said his brother "was not as bad as people made him out to be."

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating Richards’ death.

An inquest into his death is also yet to be concluded.