Child rapist jailed 17 years after crimes first reported following DNA technology development

A rapist has been jailed 17 years after his crimes were first reported because developments in DNA technology were able to identify him.

Mark Wilkinson, 60, raped and sexually abused his victim on many occasions when she was aged between 10 and 15, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The crime was initially reported in 2001 and DNA evidence was obtained. But the investigation came to a halt as the teenager was too afraid to talk to police about her ordeal.

DNA technology at the time meant that that evidence that had been collected could not be attributed to anybody.

However in 2017 after advances to “analytical techniques” scientists were able to establish that the DNA belonged to Wilkinson and he was arrested.

Wilkinson, now of Rotherham, pleaded guilty to three offences of rape, six of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child.

The court heard Wilkinson would often give the victim wine before abusing her.

The girl was so traumatised that she hit herself with a hammer in the hope that she would be taken to a doctor who would then be able to recognise that she was being abused. On another occasion she took an overdose.

Judge Simon Phillips, QC, said the abuse was “of the most serious degree.”

He said: “The sentence I can pass today cannot put right the dreadful wrongs you inflicted on your victim. Over a period of many years you violated her in the most appalling way. You persisted in your gross abuse of her. Your sexual gratification, it appears, was all consuming."

He added: “She will bear the scars for the rest of her life. You degraded her most dreadfully.”

Wilkinson was jailed for 18 years and must go on the sex offenders register for life.

Narinder Rathour, who represented Wilkinson in court, said: “There is absolutely no excusing anything by way of mitigation that can be put forward for these dreadful offences. He says this is an opportunity to repent and something that he does not take to the grave.”