Man Found Guilty of Raping Student Nearly 50 Years Ago
David Sharp, a 66-year-old retired computer worker, has been convicted of breaking into student accommodation in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in October 1977 and raping a terrified victim on her first night at university. The conviction was secured using DNA evidence nearly five decades after the assault occurred.
The Night of the Attack
The jury heard how the young woman had arrived in Leeds just hours earlier, driven by her parents from their home in southern England. She was awakened at approximately 3am by the sound of her bedroom window being smashed. The intruder climbed through, assaulted her, and fled when disturbed by a noise.
The traumatised student immediately raised the alarm with a neighbour, and the pair contacted police from a nearby payphone. Swab samples were collected within hours of the assault, but despite an investigation at the time, the case remained unsolved for decades.
Modern Forensic Breakthrough
Nearly 50 years later, detectives reopened the case and employed advanced forensic techniques to examine the preserved samples. The DNA recovered was found to be an exact match for Sharp, who was 17 years old at the time of the attack.
During the trial, Sharp admitted to having "one-night stands" while living in Leeds in the late 1970s but claimed he could not recall meeting the victim. The woman had described her attacker as wearing motorbike-style clothing, and Sharp was known to ride motorcycles at that time.
Arrest and Conviction
Sharp stated he was "shocked" and "in disbelief" when police detained him at his residence in Totnes, Devon, nearly five decades after the offence. He was convicted today of rape and sexual assault.
Judge Andrew Stubbs KC thanked jurors for their service and informed Sharp he now faces a "substantial period of imprisonment." He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 23 April.
Police Statement
Following the verdict, Detective Sergeant Richard Ord stated: "At the heart of this investigation is a woman who has been scarred by the events of 48 years ago for her whole adult life. She has told officers that she remembers the crime committed against her on that day in 1977 as if it were yesterday."
"Sharp has consistently denied this offence and taken no responsibility for his actions. The evidence we were able to gather was compelling and has resulted in him being convicted of this offence. No prison sentence can make up for the life term of trauma that the victim has been subjected to, but I hope that she feels that some form of justice has now been served."
