Sex attacker caught after 22 years

Lee Martin, 40 was finally trapped after a cold case review last year found his DNA matched that of a sex attacker who dragged the 20-year-old into bushes in 1988 as she returned to the nurses' home at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford.

Martin, of Averingcliffe Road, Bradford, who was then 18, was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court of the rape in the early hours of May 14 that year.

Remanding him in custody for a report to be prepared on him, Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC told him: "There will be a significant custodial sentence, the only issue is how long."

Friends and family members of Martin stormed from court, one dismissing the verdict was a joke. The judge told the jury: "Feelings run high on occasions like this, you will understand."

The victim had told the court she thought she was going to die and had been traumatised by the events of that night.

She was walking back alone from a night out when a man suddenly approached her and began chatting and walking with her as she neared the drive off Little Horton Lane leading to the nurse's home.

When he turned in as well she pointed out he did not live there and was then grabbed and dragged into nearby bushes. He told her he had a knife and threatened to kill her.

Although she did not see a knife she felt him holding something to her neck. "I think I froze, I really thought he was going to carry out the threat. It happened so quickly I went into a bit of shock."

After the rape her attacker ran off. Police inquiries at the time proved fruitless but evidence taken at the time was kept.

The review last year matched the evidence to Martin who was on the DNA database following a drunk and disorderly conviction in 2001.

Throughout the trial he denied he was the rapist. He told the jury he could not remember the events of that weekend so long ago but had numerous sexual partners at that time and had never raped anybody.

Jamie Hill QC, prosecuting, and Guy Kearl QC defending Martin said the basis for his sentence would be what applied in 1988. The judge asked for a report by the probation service on whether he is considered a risk to the public.

After the case Det Chief Insp. Paul Fountain from West Yorkshire Police Major Investigation Review Team said: "Lee Andrew Martin has evaded justice for 22 years.

"In the early hours of Saturday, May 14, 1988, he violently attacked a young woman and subjected her to a serious sexual assault as she as she walked home alone along Little Horton Lane, Bradford.

"He didn't know the victim, but crucially, he left forensic evidence. Despite the best efforts of the police and the Forensic Science Service at that time, no one was identified as being responsible."

But he said thanks to the close relationship between West Yorkshire Police, the Forensic Science Service and the Crown Prosecution Service, "cold cases like this are constantly reviewed and new opportunities sought to use the incredible advances that have been made in scientific analysis to identify the person responsible".

In April 2009, a full DNA profile was achieved and Martin was identified as having a matching profile with a one in a billion chance of it being another unrelated person.

"It is important to note that this identification was only due to the fact that his profile remained loaded onto the database after his conviction for being drunk and disorderly in 2001," he said.

"Today the court has given justice to the victim of this horrendous attack. She has had to live with this for a very long time. "

"Incidents like this are rare. Lee Martin's conviction at Leeds Crown Court shows that once again that there is no hiding place for criminals."