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French officials says a grandfather has admitted he had raped and sexually assaulted around 40 women in both France and Belgium since the 1980s. 

The name of the 57 year old french man, who is married has not been officially made public. Belgian police linked his car to the rape of a young woman, last week in Belgium and DNA samples from 19 other separate attacks matches his. 

The northern town Pont-sur-Sambre has been horrified by the development and the Mayor of the town described that father of three as a "well-liked" man.

"We're completely shocked," said Mayor Michel Detrait. "It doesn't fit with his personality. He was well-liked, ready to help.

French media, which identifies him as Dino Scala reports that he had previously worked as the head of the local football club and currently works a janitor. He is believed to be the country's most serial rapist.

Nicknamed "the rapist of Sambre", prosecutor Jean-Philippe Vicentini said he often attacked the women from behind, early in the morning, wearing gloves and covering his face. 

Vicentini added that he told police he had "acted on urges which he was unable to control". 

Open in 1996, the investigations looked into a string of attacks going back to 1988. One of his was just 13 years old and many others 17, a police source told AFP news agency.

Police took DNA samples from about 100 people during their search. The suspect's vehivle was caught on swecurity cameras in Belgium after a woman was raped on 5 February in the border town of Erquelinnes. 

He was arrested by French police on Monday in Pont-sur-Sambre.