Ipswich Man Jailed For 20 Year Old Rape

A man from Ipswich who repeatedly raped a teenager after threatening her with a knife has been jailed - 20 years after the "wicked'' attack.

Phil Collins, 50, from Dickens Road in Ipswich, assaulted his 17-year-old victim in a park in the Suffolk town on January 14, 1990.

At the end of a three week trial, a jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him guilty of the rape after new DNA evidence was brought to light. Officers at Suffolk Police revisited the case in 2008 and because of advances in forensic science they were able to identify Collins as the perpetrator.

Sentencing, Judge David Goodin said: "Phil Collins, you have been convicted by a jury of a terrifying attack upon a 17-year-old girl, a wicked crime in which you used a knife to ensure her subjugation to your will. Masked and dressed in dark clothing on a night in January 20 years ago, you awaited your victim. When she passed, you took her, effectively at knife point, and forced her to strip to her socks. You then raped her repeatedly.''

Collins had denied one count of rape, two of indecent assault and two of buggery.

Judge Goodin gave him two 10-year sentences for the buggery charges, 10 years for rape and eight years each for indecent assault, to run concurrently. He told Collins he would not be eligible for parole before five years and said
he would be signed on to the sex offences register for life.

Outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Rick Munns, of the Suffolk and Norfolk major investigation team, said: "This result sends a very clear message to anyone who thinks they have escaped justice for similar offences. With every advance in science it is only a matter of time before they too are arrested.''