WAYNE DOHERTY

A builder caught by DNA evidence 27 years after raping and murdering a woman has been jailed for life.

Wayne Doherty, 50, raped and killed Norah Trott, 63, whose naked body was found dumped by the side of her garage in November 1978 in Rochford, Essex.

Doherty's DNA sample, obtained in 2004, matched an analysis of semen stains on the victim's clothing.

The judge at Basildon Crown Court said he must serve at least 23 years before being considered for release.

Doherty was also given a 10-year concurrent sentence for rape.

The two-week trial heard Mrs Trott had been repeatedly struck in the face and her attacker had stamped on her body, breaking her voice box so she could not scream for help before he raped her.

Her killer was never caught but the jury heard that in July 2004, Doherty, who had lived close to Mrs Trott's home, was stopped for drink-driving in Cambridge.

A routine mouth swab matched a sample obtained by scientists from Mrs Trott's body and clothes, which had been placed on the national DNA database in March 2003.

Martyn Levett, prosecuting, said there was a one in 190 million chance of the DNA found on Mrs Trott's clothing not belonging to Doherty and a one in 180,000 chance of the DNA found on her body belonging to someone other than Doherty.

After the jury's unanimous guilty verdict on Wednesday the court heard Doherty had a conviction for indecently assaulting a two-year-old girl around 100 yards from where he killed Mrs Trott and a number of other convictions for unrelated offences.