CHADDESDEN SEX OFFENDER ILIJA HIGH CONFESSES TO DERBY CRIMES IN CHILLING POLICE INTERVIEW

In a disturbing series of events that shocked the community of Derby, Ilija High, a man with a dark history of sexual offenses, was captured on camera during a police interview, calmly admitting to three heinous sex attacks, including an attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl. The footage, which has since been made public, reveals High's chilling demeanor as he straightforwardly confesses, saying, "Right, I’m here to confess."

The timeline of High’s criminal activities stretches over several years, beginning on September 27, 2014, when he sexually assaulted and attempted to rape a 14-year-old girl on a footpath near West Park nature reserve in the Spondon area of Derby. This was the first in a series of violent encounters that would terrorize victims in the region.

Nearly a year later, on September 7, 2015, High committed a series of sexual assaults against an 18-year-old woman in Darley Park. He raped her three times and made a fourth attempt to assault her, covering her face with a black hoodie and carrying a knife during the attack. The brutality of this assault underscored the danger High posed to women in the area.

Less than three months after the Darley Park incident, on December 22, 2015, High returned to the same footpath in Spondon where he had previously attacked the 14-year-old girl. This time, he sexually assaulted and attempted to rape a 28-year-old woman, further demonstrating his pattern of targeting lone females in secluded locations and parks across Derby.

In the months that followed, police launched a dedicated investigation into High’s crimes. On March 13, 2017, authorities issued a public appeal, distributing 40,000 flyers featuring an e-fit image of the suspect, in hopes of identifying him. The community’s vigilance paid off when a resident recognized High within hours of the appeal and contacted the police. The very next day, police visited High’s residence in Chaddesden, collected a DNA sample, and on March 15, High voluntarily surrendered himself at a police station. During police interviews, he confessed to the three sexual assaults and attempted rapes, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

High’s court appearances revealed the full extent of his crimes. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape, one assault, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals. His victims included a teenage girl and two adult women, all of whom suffered significant emotional trauma. The 14-year-old victim described how the attack had shattered her confidence, while the 18-year-old victim expressed feelings of shame. The oldest victim fought back physically, attempting to fend off High by putting her fingers in his eyes, but was repeatedly punched during the assault.

Detective Chief Inspector Emlyn Richards emphasized the importance of the police operation, stating, “Without a shadow of a doubt, he will have continued to offend if we hadn’t caught him. I think he is a real predator and a danger to women.” The extensive police effort included a large-scale manhunt and community engagement, which ultimately led to High’s arrest and confession.

In June 2017, further revelations emerged when High admitted to five additional crimes, including making indecent photographs of a child, during a court hearing at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court. He appeared via videolink from his residence in Autumn Grove, wearing a grey jumper and sporting short black hair with a goatee beard. These crimes, committed at his home, added to the already lengthy list of offenses for which he was being prosecuted.

High’s previous guilty plea in April 2017 to seven sexual offenses against three victims, including attempted rapes and serious sexual assaults, marked a significant milestone in the case. Following his conviction, authorities continued to review other potential offenses, with Detective Inspector Richards urging any additional victims to come forward, suggesting that High’s criminal activity might extend beyond what was initially known.

As the case moves toward sentencing scheduled for June 23, 2017, in Derby Crown Court, the community remains vigilant and aware of the dangers posed by individuals like High. The police have also released a documentary titled “Catching A Criminal,” featuring interviews with officers and High’s own confessions, aiming to shed light on the investigation and the importance of community cooperation in combating such heinous crimes.