BRANSHOLE MAN MIKE DIXON AKA GRAHAM THORPE SENTENCED FOR 19-YEAR-OLD KNIFEPROOF RAPE IN HULL
In a case that spanned nearly two decades, a man known as Mike Dixon, also identified by the alias Graham Thorpe, has been finally brought to justice for a brutal assault that took place in Hull.The incident, which occurred on March 22, 1991, involved a teenage girl who was subjected to a terrifying ordeal on waste land off Honiton Road in Bransholme.
According to court records, Dixon, then 38 years old, forcibly dragged the young victim into an area where the former Old Maisonette flats once stood.
Armed with a knife, he threatened her with death, warning her that if she screamed, he would kill her.
Despite her pleas and attempts to raise the alarm, Dixon continued his assault, raping her in a manner described by the judge as 'most terrifying.' The judge, John Dowse, emphasized the severity of the crime, highlighting the threats to kill, the use of a weapon, and the abduction of the girl into wasteland as aggravating factors.
He stated that the victim's life had been profoundly affected, describing her as having been devastated and traumatised for nearly 20 years due to Dixon's actions.
The judge remarked, 'It is difficult to imagine the fear and distress she must have felt.' Despite the victim's efforts to escape and alert authorities, the perpetrator was never caught at the time.
A large-scale police investigation was launched, focusing on the man known as the Honiton Road Rapist, but Dixon remained at large for many years.
It was only recently, after a cold case review by Humberside Police's Operation Fox team, that the case was reopened.
The breakthrough came when DNA evidence, collected from the crime scene, was matched to Dixon.
His arrest occurred in Essex, where he was found to be unemployed, married, and acting as a full-time carer for his partner.
At the time of his arrest, Dixon was driving without insurance, which led to his DNA being taken and subsequently entered into the police database last June.
This DNA match ultimately led to his identification and arrest.
During the court proceedings, Dixon pleaded guilty to the charge of rape.
He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison at Hull Crown Court.
The judge acknowledged the efforts of the Operation Fox team, with Detective Superintendent Dena Fleming expressing hope that the victim could now begin to rebuild her life after enduring such a traumatic experience.
Dixon's criminal history includes convictions for robbery, burglary, assaults, and carrying offensive weapons.
However, despite these previous convictions, his DNA was only added to the database recently, following his driving offences.
The case underscores the importance of cold case investigations and the role of DNA evidence in solving long-standing crimes, providing a measure of justice after nearly two decades.
