Sex offender caught years after attack

A sex offender was caught using DNA evidence - 14 years after he attacked an elderly woman in her home.

Carl Fridye, 32, from Stirchley, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to indecently assaulting the 77-year-old in 1989.

Fridye had previously been jailed for a number of sexual offences.

He was arrested for the attack on the pensioner in north London following a cold case investigation by officers from Project Sapphire at the Metropolitan Police.

His case demonstrates that convictions are possible in cold cases even when the victim has died and can't give evidence in court Prosecutor Claire Ward

Forensic samples from the scene were matched to Fridye through the national DNA database and his fingerprints were also matched to a print found at the scene of the crime.

The court heard Fridye's victim was asleep in her home in Islington when he climbed through a window, held her down on her bed, hit her in the face and sexually assaulted her.

When she screamed, he threatened to kill her.

She has since died of natural causes.

Vulnerable woman

Fridye was remanded in custody until 23 January for pre-sentence reports.

He also admitted failing to register with police as a sex offender between August and September this year.

Prosecutor Claire Ward from CPS London Special Casework unit, which reviewed the case, said outside court it had been a callous attack on a vulnerable woman.

"Carl Fridye probably thought that he wouldn't be caught after all this time but this case demonstrates that convictions are possible in cold cases even when the victim has died and can't give evidence in court," she said.