Solving the Witton Park rape

Graham Darbyshire was caught by advancements in DNA

Twenty five years on from the discovery of the DNA fingerprint, BBC Radio Lancashire's News Editor reflects on the Witton Park rape case.

DNA advancements enabled the police to bring the rapist to justice 11 years on from the attack.

Chris Rider followed the case since the story first broke back in 1995.

He reflects on the impact it made at the time and how it was solved after years of trying...

When the news came into the newsroom it was clear this was a vicious attack.

Of course all rapes are serious crimes but the length of time of this attack and fact it was carried out in broad daylight in a public park meant it was causing real concern for the police.

"One of the worst crimes I have come across in 25 years," was how it was described by Detective Chief Inspector Mick Langden the officer who was in charge of then initial investigation.

Bin bags

The attacker had posed as a jogger, asking her the time and then dragging the woman into some undergrowth. He threatened to kill her and held her hostage for more than an hour before running off.

The sending of notes written on bin bags - almost taunting the police - was a bizarre and unsavoury post script. The police were keen to appeal to the public and BBC Radio Lancashire broadcast several interviews in the aftermath of the attack. Depsite this, there were no early breakthroughs and two appeals on the Crimewatch UK television programme also came to nothing.

I remember thinking the broadcast of a full reconstruction could be just what was needed. I had covered a case some years before on the murder of a man found in Blackburn in which his nephew phoned the programme and gave the police the information they needed. On this occasion the appeal came to nothing.

As a reporter you come to learn that, as time moves on, it becomes harder to solve a crime. However, in this case time helped rather than hindered the investigation. The developments in DNA technology threw up a link between Witton Park and another rape attack near Leigh and as a result a link with a family member of the rapist.

Oblivious

One of the worst crimes I have come across in 25 years Detective Chief Inspector Mick Langden on the attack

Graham Darbyshire probably thought he had got away with his crimes. Maybe he sat at home and watched the Crimewatch programme scoffing at the efforts detectives were making to find him. In recent years he had moved to Leyland setting up a home with a wife and living with neighbours who would be oblivious to his dark past.

When he was sentenced at Preston Crown Court , the woman he attacked at Witton Park all those years ago was there.

She told me it wasn't an easy decision but one she had to take, to show Darbyshire that while he faces a long spell in jail she has her life ahead of her.