THURROCK'S EARLY BIRD RAPIST CHRISTOPHER CLARK JAILED FOR 1985 ATTACK

In a case that has spanned over three decades, Christopher Clark, a notorious sex offender from Thurrock, has been finally brought to justice for a brutal attack that occurred in 1985. The incident, which remained unsolved for many years, involved Clark threatening an 18-year-old woman with a knife as she was on her way to work. The victim, Yolande Jenkins, was walking along Clockhouse Lane in North Stifford when Clark approached her, brandished a weapon, and forcibly dragged her into a nearby yard where he committed a sexual assault.

At the time of the attack, forensic evidence was collected, including DNA samples, but the case remained unresolved due to the limitations of forensic technology in the 1980s. It was only after a comprehensive cold case review in 2017 that authorities managed to link Clark to the crime through advancements in DNA analysis. This breakthrough led to his arrest and subsequent guilty plea in August of the same year.

Christopher Clark, now aged 68, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court to serve a prison term of 13 years, with an additional five years on licence upon release. The court heard that Clark had a long history of sexual offences, including a previous conviction in 1978 for indecent assault on a girl under 14 in Bristol. His criminal record also includes a series of offences in the 1980s, where he was dubbed the 'Early Bird Rapist' due to his modus operandi of watching victims in their homes and attacking them in the mornings.

In 1986, Clark was arrested and charged with 13 offences, including rape and burglary with intent to commit rape, in various locations such as South Benfleet, Grays, Great Baddow, South Woodham Ferrers, Hornchurch, and Upminster. His pattern of predatory behaviour was characterized by his targeting of women during early hours, instilling fear and trauma in his victims.

Clark's most severe sentence prior to the recent conviction was a life imprisonment handed down in 1996 after he sexually assaulted and attempted to suffocate a young woman in Bath. Remarkably, he had been released from prison just three months before the 1985 attack in Thurrock.

During the sentencing, Recorder Claire Davies remarked that had Clark been apprehended at the time of the 1985 offence, it might have prevented further assaults. She expressed regret that Clark was not caught earlier, which could have curtailed his campaign of sexual violence.

Yolande Jenkins, who now goes by Yolande Kennedy, chose to speak publicly about her ordeal to help others who have suffered similar experiences. She expressed her desire for Clark to understand the lasting impact of his actions, stating, "I want to look at the whites of his eyes and let him know how he has made me feel over the years. I want to tell him he is not in control anymore. He obviously is the kind of person who needs to overpower women and I hope he never gets to do that again. I just hope he never gets out."

Ms. Jenkins described the attack vividly, recalling how Clark grabbed her by the throat and threatened her with a knife, claiming he did not want to hurt her. She added, "The trauma from it all never goes away. You have constant nightmares, always wondering if someone running up the street is coming to get you. I liked to hope one day he would be found but I never really thought he would."

Clark's criminal history and recent conviction underscore the persistent threat posed by repeat offenders, and his case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of forensic advancements in solving cold cases and delivering justice for victims.