DNA TEST PUTS RAPIST IN JAIL
A RAPIST who stalked and attacked a teenager is today starting a six-year jail sentence, nearly six years after the offence.Kenneth Crouch, 28, was caught because of the coincidence of advances in DNA technology and the separate actions of two police officers.
Pc Chris Spellerberg took a mouth swab from Crouch last year after he was arrested for making a malicious phone call.
The DNA from that swab was entered on the national DNA database.
Then Det Chief Inspector Kevin Walton ordered a review of the forensic evidence and that threw up the match of Crouch to the rape in March 1996.
He was arrested last August.
Yesterday the victim, aged 19 at the time of the rape, was in court to see Crouch jailed.
Charles Gabb, prosecuting, told how Crouch followed the victim as she walked to a friend's house in Dibden Purlieu.
As she passed Noadswood Secondary School in Water Lane, Crouch grabbed her, forced her off the footpath.
He raped her and indecently assaulted her.
Afterwards as the shocked teenager put her clothes on, Crouch said: "Next time don't walk on your own in dark streets.
You could have been hurt.
You were lucky it was only me." Crouch, a security guard, of Spittlefields, Ringwood, yesterday (MON) changed his plea to guilty, minutes before the jury was due to enter the crown court at Winchester to start his trial.
He had at an earlier hearing admitted indecent assault.
Sentencing, Judge Patrick Hooton said: "Coming upon a complete stranger and forcing her into bushes and forcing her to undergo those indignities before raping her, in my view is an extremely serious example of rape." Mark Florida-James, mitigating, said Crouch was remorseful and the attack had not been planned.
After the case the victim declined to speak about the case.
Det Ch Insp Walton said: "She is very relieved the whole episode is over and she can put it behind her.
She wanted to see him face to face particularly when he was sent to prison.
"It was an appalling incident and terrifying for a young lady.
I would question that there was no planning.
It defies logic that someone happens upon a young lady like this without planning.
"It is a clich but we never put these cases away, we never put them on the shelf.
After such a long time when we got the DNA match it was an exhilarating feeling.
It is very satisfying for us and the victim.
I was the senior investigating officer in 1996 and I was determined to detect it.
There was always the drive to keep on at it.
I took it as a failure that I had not detected something as serious as this.
Before DNA developed we would probably never have solved this unless he confessed or committed further offences.
DNA has contributed to solving this offence and maybe prevented further offences.
We must assume Crouch is a dangerous, predatory rapist.
