STANLEY ATKINSON'S CRIMES IN BURTON: DECADES-LONG JUSTICE FINALLY SERVED

In a significant development in the pursuit of justice for long-unsolved crimes, Stanley Atkinson, a man with a troubling criminal history, has been linked through advanced forensic evidence to a sexual assault that occurred in Burton, Staffordshire, in 1995. This case, which had remained unresolved for over a decade, exemplifies how modern DNA technology can finally bring closure to victims and their families.

Back in July 1995, a 16-year-old girl was subjected to a brutal assault at Burton Washlands. According to police reports, Atkinson, who was then 44 years old and originally from Kirkby-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, approached the young victim in a seemingly random act of violence. He punched her in the face, then forcibly dragged her into nearby bushes. There, he subjected her to a sexual assault, an ordeal that left her traumatized and physically injured. The victim, severely affected by the attack, managed to stagger to a nearby residence and raised the alarm. She was subsequently taken to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital, where she remained too ill and traumatized to be interviewed by detectives for several days.

Despite the severity of the assault, the case went cold for many years. It was only in recent times that advancements in forensic science, particularly DNA analysis, allowed investigators to revisit the case. The breakthrough came when police, working on a national initiative called Operation Advance 2, re-examined cold cases using new forensic techniques. They recovered DNA evidence from the scene of the Burton attack, which was then matched to samples from Atkinson, who was already serving a life sentence for a similar assault in Newquay, Cornwall, in 2002.

Atkinson’s criminal record is extensive. In 2002, he was convicted of a vicious sexual assault in Newquay, where he attacked a woman on a footpath, hitting her with a hammer and then forcing her to perform a sexual act with a knife involved. During that trial, he admitted to arriving in Newquay the week prior and scouting the area, indicating premeditation. His DNA evidence from that scene ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent life imprisonment. Additionally, police investigations revealed that Atkinson had committed similar offences in Derbyshire, further underscoring his pattern of violent sexual crimes.

Burton-based Detective Sergeant David Johnston expressed relief and satisfaction at the resolution of this case. He stated, “The traumatised victim and her family have had to live with the memory of this terrifying incident for very many years. It was a dreadful experience made worse by having to face up to the prospect that the man who had done this might never be caught. However, thanks to developments in DNA and improvements in forensic science, this criminal is now behind bars. Hopefully, with the knowledge that justice has finally been done, the family will now be able to finally find the closure they need.”

Atkinson’s guilty plea in January 2007 marked a turning point in the case. He admitted to the assault on the Burton teenager, which had left her semi-conscious and in hospital. The attack occurred between 1 pm and 2 pm at the Cherry Orchard play area on Burton’s Trent Washlands. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was unable to be named publicly. Her injuries and trauma required her to be hospitalized for several days, and her account of the assault was corroborated by the DNA evidence recovered from the scene.

Following his arrest, Atkinson was detained at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight, where he was serving a life sentence for the Cornwall attack. He was brought to the Horninglow Street courthouse for his hearing, where he admitted to the assault and to having deliberately targeted women in previous incidents. His confession confirmed that he had walked the scene of the Burton attack multiple times in the days leading up to it, indicating a calculated approach.

As the case moves toward sentencing at Stafford Crown Court, the community and the victim’s family can find some measure of relief. Detective Sergeant Johnson emphasized the importance of this conviction, stating, “This case also sends a clear message to people like Atkinson that they are not beyond the law, and that they will be brought to account. It doesn’t matter if what they did happened over a decade ago, and it doesn’t matter whether it happened in the same part of the country anymore. They will be caught.”