THE 31-YEAR-OLD WAS CAUGHT AFTER HIS DNA WAS FOUND AT THREE RAPE SCENES IN THE SOUTHAMPTON AREA.
Steven Kimber's crimes sparked one of the biggest manhunts in the county's history.The 31-year-old was caught after his DNA was found at three rape scenes in the Southampton area.
Kimber had pleaded guilty to three charges of rape at earlier hearings before Southampton Crown Court.
He admitted attacking a 19-year-old woman on Southampton Common, a 47-year-old mum in a Weston alleyway and a 26-year-old woman in a car park overlooking Netley Common.
All rapes took place between February 1997 and March 1999.
Kimber has refused to offer any explanation for his crimes, only providing police with a two-line written confession.
He previously denied a fourth allegation of falsely imprisoning one of his victims.
But yesterday, just minutes before a three-day trial was due at Bristol Crown Court, Kimber finally admitted his guilt.
The evidence which convicted Kimber was cast-iron.
His DNA - his individual genetic fingerprint - was found at all three scenes.
It was these fragments of DNA - present in even the most minute amount of everybody's skin, hair, or blood, or body fluids - which proved his guilt.
Without this forensic evidence, he might still be free.
His response to police was: "I admit I carried out these rapes.
I am ashamed and sorry and wish to say nothing more at this time." There was no explanation for his actions, nor remorse.
He sat slumped in the dock, looking relaxed and cocky, in court, just feet away from a woman he kidnapped, beat, and raped.
The police hunt involved analisarng mouth swabs from thousands of Southampton men in a large door-to-door DNA search, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Kimber was caught on December 3 in Bitterne, after his DNA matched the evidence from the scenes.
He had previously missed three opportunities to be identified.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Stewart led the investigation, believing Kimber likely committed more offences and praising the use of DNA for solving the case.
Kimber's arrest followed a prolonged police effort and community cooperation, highlighting the value of forensic science in catching serial offenders.
