SHAUN HARRISON PLYMOUTH RAPIST SENTENCED FOR 1989 ATTACK IN EASTLAKE STREET
In a significant development in cold case justice, Shaun Harrison, a 46-year-old man from Orchard Road, Plymouth, was sentenced to a total of twelve years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed nearly three decades ago.The conviction stems from an attack that took place in the city center of Plymouth in 1989, where Harrison assaulted a 16-year-old girl in a secluded alleyway.
On Tuesday, during a hearing at Plymouth Crown Court, Harrison was formally convicted of raping the teenage girl and indecently assaulting her.
The court heard that the assault occurred on a Friday evening in September 1989, when Harrison forcibly dragged his young victim into an alley behind Eastlake Street, a location now part of the Drake Circus shopping area.
The attack was brutal and left a lasting impact on the victim, who was waiting for her boyfriend at the time.
Despite denying the charges initially, Harrison’s guilt was established through the use of advanced DNA evidence, which linked a sample found on the girl’s dress directly to him.
This technological breakthrough played a crucial role in securing his conviction, highlighting the importance of forensic science in solving cold cases.
The investigation was overseen by Detective Stuart Butler, who expressed his satisfaction that justice had been served.
Butler stated, “I am so pleased that this man has been brought to justice after all these years.
I hope this verdict provides some closure for the victim.” Judge Paul Darlow, presiding over the case, described Harrison’s actions as “terrifying and brutal,” emphasizing the severity of the crime committed in Eastlake Street.
The judge also sentenced Harrison to an additional four years for a separate incident in 1995, where he was found guilty of raping another woman outside a nightclub in Plymouth.
The court noted that Harrison had shown no remorse for his actions, having denied multiple charges, including two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault, until the evidence proved otherwise.
In his remarks, Judge Darlow pointed out that Harrison had a prior conviction for assault causing grievous bodily harm in 1985, for which he was fined.
The judge made it clear that Harrison’s criminal history and lack of remorse contributed to the severity of his sentencing.
Harrison’s current sentence comprises eight years for the 1989 rape and four years for the 1995 assault, with no additional punishment for the indecent assaults, as the prosecution chose not to pursue further charges.
It is also noteworthy that the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with evidence related to other alleged sexual offenses attributed to Harrison, leading the court to enter formal ‘not guilty’ verdicts on those counts.
The case underscores the advances in forensic technology that have enabled law enforcement to revisit and resolve cases long thought to be closed, bringing long-overdue justice to victims of sexual violence in Plymouth.
