SHROPSHIRE MAN JAILED FOR HISTORIC RAPE AFTER DNA BREAKTHROUGH
A dangerous sex offender has received an eight-year prison sentence for a rape that occurred 16 years earlier.Andrew Watkins, 41, from Shropshire, was responsible for assaulting a 25-year-old woman as she made her way home after babysitting in Astley.
The case was reopened and Watkins ultimately admitted guilt following a review by Greater Manchester Police, which utilized advanced DNA analysis techniques.
During his court appearance at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Watkins was sentenced to six years for a single count of rape, with an additional two years each for two counts of indecent assault, all to run simultaneously.
The victim, who was babysitting for a relative on March 17, 1991, left the residence early the next morning and was walking along Church Road when Watkins approached her from behind.
He pulled her into a nearby driveway and onto a grassy area.
The woman attempted to scream but Watkins covered her mouth and told her to stay quiet.
He then stripped some of her clothing, pulled her upper garments over her head, and committed both indecent assault and rape.
Following the assault, Watkins apologized.
Evidence from the victim’s clothing, collected in 1991, was re-examined, leading to a partial DNA profile.
This profile was entered into the national DNA database, which identified Watkins as a match, as he had been living within a mile of the crime scene at the time.
Watkins was arrested in Shropshire last December.
A blood sample was obtained from him and, after traveling to Denmark for comparison, authorities confirmed a match with the evidence from the scene.
Detective Inspector Andy Meeks of the Cold Case Review Unit explained that their goal is to seek justice for past crimes, acknowledging that offenders can still pose a threat in the future.
