May 2006 DNA nets rapist 16 years on A RAPIST who evaded justice for 16 years after attacking a schoolgirl in a Sheffield park has been jailed after police used pioneering DNA technology to snare him. Detectives today vowed to use the new techniques to track down other South Yorkshire sex offenders who thought they had escaped capture. Parents across Sheffield were left “shocked and scared” in March 1990 when news spread that a 15-year-old had been bundled into bushes in Graves Park by a masked rapist and subjected to two sickening sex attacks lasting more than 20 minutes. Children were kept indoors for days and the popular park was, for a time, deserted and described as “the loneliest place in the world”. Despite a huge police appeal no-one was caught. But justice finally caught up with one-time prolific criminal Andrew Weldon as he was jailed for 11 years in front of his brave victim at Sheffield Crown Court. After the hearing police revealed the 45-year-old is the “first of many” sex offenders they hope to bring to court for serious sexual offences committed years ago. Weldon – a self-employed painter from of Balmain Road, Hillsborough – lurked in woodland at dusk “to find a victim to rape” on March 4 1990. He drunkenly approached the girl and forced her into a secluded spot where he raped and beat her. Prosecutor Corrine Wilson said: “He told the girl ‘scream and I will kill you’ and repeatedly slapped her across the face. She was hysterical and was crying.” The youngster, who was studying for her GCSEs, was left scared of men and has suffered terrifying flashbacks. Weldon, then 29, evaded capture until October last year when a “cold case” review team from South Yorkshire Police matched DNA evidence kept on record to Weldon. His details had been taken after he stabbed his former girlfriend’s lover in 2000. He claims not to remember the Graves Park attack. Jailing Weldon in front of his sobbing victim – now a mum-of-one – Judge Michael Murphy QC told him: “Offences like this not only blight the life of the unfortunate victim and her family and friends but also terrify the general public who thought there was a rapist on the loose. “You would have evaded justice if it wasn’t for the vigilance of the police and forensic teams. “This was a horrendous offence and one which deserves substantial punishment.” The judge added: “I’m quite sure the only reason you were at the park was to look for a victim to rape. I find it difficult to believe you have no recollection of that night.” After the case Det Sgt Neil Vaughan, of Moss Way CID, revealed many more sex offenders who thought they had evaded capture could now be brought to court. “We have got quite a lot of cold case reviews ongoing and we hope to have other people in court,” he said. “The advances in DNA technology have enabled us to do this and Weldon is the first of many we hope to bring charges against.” Weldon admitted rape and will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.