7 YEARS FOR PRESTON CITY CENTRE RAPIST

Posted Friday, 27 November 2009

A man convicted of a Preston city centre rape 11 years after it happened has been given 7 years behind bars.

34-year-old Christopher Andrews from North Yorkshire attacked a woman outside the Blue Moon pub in Preston back in 1998.

DNA was found when officers investigated at the time but no match was found on the database.

Then, he was caught drink driving last year and his DNA sample was taken.

He was found guilty of the attack at Preston Crown Court at the beginning of October.

Detective Inspector Bev Foster, from the Force Major Investigation Cold Case Team, said: "I am pleased with today's sentence and hope it will go some way to ending the ordeal suffered by the victim in this case.

"It has been an extremely traumatic time for the victim, however, she was determined her attacker should face justice and was fully supportive of the police investigation.

"Andrew carried out a savage attack on a defenceless woman. He is clearly a dangerous individual and the public needs to be protected from him.

"I hope the sentence sends out a clear message to offenders who think they can escape justice - you will be brought before the courts for punishment.

"We are committed to identifying offenders using the latest advances in forensic science coupled with good old-fashioned detective work. It is important that the people who have committed appalling crimes, however long ago, are brought to justice.

"Cases are never closed and we remain committed to delivering closure and support for the victims as well as reassuring our communities regardless of the passage of time."