Hull rapist captured after nearly 20 years

Mike Dixon, now 38, followed his victim as she walked to a bus stop in March 1991 and dragged her into wasteland.

The 18-year-old screamed for help - but Dixon told her, "scream once more and I'll kill you" before threatening her with the blade and raping her.

Police launched a manhunt after the crime which shocked the city, but he fled to Essex where he married, believing he had escaped justice.

He was finally caught after he was stopped and arrested for driving without insurance in Essex in June.

DNA was taken from him as a matter of course - and after the southern police force placed it on the national computer, colleagues in East Yorkshire linked it to DNA found at the rape scene.

Jobless Dixon, also known as Graham Thorpe, was arrested in Essex and now faces a long jail term after admitting rape at Hull Crown Court.

Det Supt Dena Fleming said she hopes Dixon's victim can now finally move on with her life.

She said: 'It is as horrific today for the victim as it was all those years ago. She has had to live with not knowing who or where her attacker was. She can now finally have peace of mind knowing he is behind bars."

Hull resident Margaret Monkman, 60, lived near the area of the rape and clearly remembers the terrible effect on the community knowing the rapist was still on the loose.

She said: "Everyone knew everyone else and we were all devastated when we heard about this rape. Children weren't allowed out on their own and people stopped going out generally. If they had to, they would go out in pairs.

"There was a lot of anger and disgust. It took 18 months before the community calmed down."

Local councillor Anita Harrison added: "It was a really frightening time and women were always looking over their shoulder.

"If you wanted to go out at night, you thought twice about it. It was the talk of the area for a long time.

"There was a lot of anger he was never caught but the community just got on with it. It was the victim and her family you had to think about."