ALEXANDER MCGUIRE SENTENCED IN WINDSOR AFTER SANDY SEX ATTACK CASE REOPENED

In a significant development in a long-standing case, Alexander McGuire, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, was finally sentenced to prison after being linked to a brutal assault that occurred over 25 years ago in Windsor. The victim, who endured a harrowing experience at the time, expressed a sense of relief as justice was finally served, ending a quarter-century of uncertainty and emotional turmoil.

Back in November 1986, the woman was working at a branch of McDonald's in Windsor, Berkshire, when she was attacked by McGuire. The assault left her traumatized, and the case initially went cold, with McGuire escaping conviction despite the severity of the crime. The victim described feeling as if she was burdened with a 'life sentence' due to the unresolved nature of her ordeal, which cast a shadow over her life for decades.

McGuire, who was dishonourably discharged from the Armed Forces and served with the Scots Guards, was arrested last July at his residence in Greyhound View, Sandy, Bedfordshire. The case was reopened after detectives utilized advanced forensic techniques to re-examine evidence collected during the victim’s original medical examination. This new analysis revealed a DNA profile that matched McGuire’s, with the probability of a wrongful identification being one in a billion, effectively confirming his involvement in the assault.

The court proceedings in Reading Crown Court revealed the details of the case, including how McGuire had attacked the victim while she was at work. The court also heard about his criminal history, which includes a three-year sentence at the Old Bailey in 1980 for two counts of rape and one count of burglary with intent to commit rape. This history underscored the seriousness of his criminal behavior.

McGuire, now 61 years old, appeared in court with a balding and bespectacled appearance, showing no visible emotion as he was sentenced. Judge Zoe Smith addressed him directly, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes and their impact on the victim. She described the case as one that could give nightmares, highlighting the terror and distress experienced by the victim and her family. The judge noted that the victim had to leave her job and her community due to the trauma, and that the case’s cold case review had shed light on the devastating effects the assault had on her life.

Following the review, McGuire was sentenced to eight years in prison. He will serve half of that sentence, minus the days he has already spent in custody. The court’s decision marked a long-awaited moment of justice for the victim, who expressed her relief at finally seeing her attacker held accountable after so many years.