CHILD RAPIST ON THE RUN FOR 16 YEARS CAUGHT HIDING IN CORNWALL
A child rapist who sexually assaulted an underage girl has been apprehended after living under an assumed identity in Cornwall for over 16 years.Neil Jackson, aged 65, "utterly destroyed" his victim's life, who had to wait almost two decades to see her attacker brought to justice.
He raped the girl, who was under 16 at the time, in Derbyshire.
After her report to the police, Jackson was called for an interview but was released for the weekend.
Subsequently, he went into hiding and evaded police for many years, as reported by The Derby Telegraph.
An appeal was also made on BBC's Crimewatch, offering a reward for information, but this did not lead to his arrest.
The breakthrough came last year when a farm office worker in Penzance found a photocopy of a passport under his real name in his personnel file.
A quick Google search revealed the Crimewatch appeal, and the police were contacted to arrest him.
Jackson was ultimately jailed for 11 years and three months at Derby Crown Court.
Judge Nirmal Shant QC stated, “To say you have utterly destroyed her life is an understatement.
She continues to suffer from what you did, but more tragically, she had to wait so many years.” Jackson had no prior convictions but had received one caution for bigamy in 1996.
His guilty pleas to two counts of raping a person under 16 led to his sentencing.
During the case, it was revealed he had been living and working in Cornwall under an alias, effectively on the run for 16 years, and had managed to work cash-in-hand and rent properties without detection.
Detective Sergeant Chris Simcock acknowledged the failure of the police to act earlier, stating, “We acknowledge that the force missed an opportunity to start proceedings against Jackson back in 2001.
Our officers have worked tirelessly, and together with the victim's courage, Jackson's guilt has now been established and he has been sentenced.” In addition to imprisonment, Jackson was handed a sexual harm prevention order to prevent further offenses.
