GEORGE STONEHAM SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN HIGH WYCOMBE AND SWANSCOMBE

In October 2009, Geoffrey Stoneham, a man with a troubling criminal history, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a heinous assault that took place nearly three decades earlier. The crime involved the rape and threats against a teenage girl, an incident that left lasting scars and had long been unresolved until recent forensic developments.

Stoneham, then a resident of South Oxhey, was identified as the perpetrator after DNA evidence linked him to the 1980 attack. The assault occurred on April 25, 1980, along Micklefield Road in High Wycombe, where the victim, a 17-year-old girl, was ambushed by two men while walking alone near a railway embankment. The attack was brutal and terrifying, with the victim left in a state of shock and fear.

According to court proceedings, the assailants, including Stoneham, took turns raping her. The attack was characterized by violence and intimidation, with the victim being threatened with a knife and told she would be killed if she tried to escape. The assailants ordered her to lie face down and cover her head with her coat to prevent her from seeing them. The attack was carried out with a level of brutality that profoundly affected the young woman.

At the time of the assault, forensic samples were collected, but they only confirmed the blood group of the attacker. It was not until 2007, when the evidence was re-examined, that a DNA match was made linking Stoneham to the crime. The forensic analysis revealed a probability of one in a billion that the DNA belonged to anyone else, solidifying his guilt.

Prosecutor Alan Blake described the attack in detail, recounting how the victim was grabbed from behind, thrown onto a grassy bank, and threatened with a pointed instrument believed to be a knife. The second attacker, who remains at large, joined the assault, further terrorizing the young woman. After the assault, she was told to stay put for five minutes and was threatened with death if she moved.

Stoneham’s criminal record was extensive, with 32 previous convictions for 65 offences dating back to 1959. His past included two convictions of a sexual nature, highlighting a pattern of concerning behavior.

During the court hearing, a statement from the victim’s sister was read aloud, describing how the attack profoundly changed her sister’s life. The young woman became increasingly anxious and dependent on others for safety, avoiding social outings and even struggling to take her children to the park.

Defense lawyer Nicola Cafferkey acknowledged that Stoneham had taken responsibility for his actions, albeit very late, which is considered rare in cases of this nature. The judge, Seddon Cripps, emphasized the severity of the crime, describing it as a terrifying attack that left the victim a “quivering wreck” and believing her life was in danger. The judge also ordered Stoneham to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.