Prison sentence for student nurse rapist trapped by DNA evidence after 22 years

Lee Martin was finally trapped after a cold case review last year . It found his DNA matched the sex attacker who dragged the 20-year-old into bushes as she returned to the nurses' home at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford in 1988.

Martin, 40, of Averingcliffe Road, Bradford, was convicted by a jury at Leeds Crown Court last month of the rape in the early hours of May 14 that year when he was 18.

Sentencing him yesterday Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC said it must have been a terrifying experience for his victim making her way home alone at night.

She said: "It can sensibly be inferred from your presence on the street in that area of Bradford that night that there was an element of planning in what you did."

After approaching the student nurse and starting to engage her in conversation he suddenly grabbed her, pulled her into bushes and to the ground. "You threatened to kill her and held some unidentified weapon against her throat and forced sexual intercourse on her."

The judge said his victim was reminded of the events when the investigation began again last year and then had to relive her ordeal in court at the trial.

She commended the officers and staff who brought him to justice and said the public would be glad to know that "there was no time limit on the availability of justice".

Jamie Hill QC, prosecuting, said the victim believed she was going to be killed and was paralysed with fear during the attack. Afterwards she said she felt ashamed and angry that she had not fought him.

Whenever men looked at her she felt intense fear and had once run out of a shop screaming because she felt a man was staring at her.

The attack had affected her confidence and relationships over the years. She had tried to put it at the back of her mind but on occasions things would trigger a rush of fear and the memories would come back.

When the police arrived to see her after 21 years it had began to dominate her thoughts again. The experience of giving evidence in court had added to that and she found herself breaking down in tears at times.

Martin told the jury he had been a promiscuous teenager but maintained he had never forced a woman to have sex. He said he did not recall the victim and denied raping her.

Guy Kearl QC defending, said Martin was being supported by his fiancee, family and friends who valued him greatly.

Lead consultant for the Forensic Science Service, Cathy Turner, said afterwards: "It is extremely satisfying for us that advances in DNA technology pioneered by the FSS have helped to ensure that Lee Martin is taken off the streets. We are delighted we have been able to work in partnership with West Yorkshire Police's cold case team to help bring closure to his victim."