DONALD KARGBO-REFFELL SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN BEDFORD USING NEW FORENSIC TECHNIQUES

A man known as Donald Kargbo-Reffell, who was previously considered a suspect in a 2006 sexual assault case involving a teenage girl in Bedford, has now been convicted and sentenced to 19 years in prison. The conviction follows the application of advanced forensic methods that provided new evidence, ultimately leading to his guilty verdict at Luton Crown Court.

Originally, Kargbo-Reffell, aged 55 and residing on Princes Street in Bedford, was arrested nearly two decades ago in connection with the alleged assault. At that time, forensic evidence was collected, but the technology available then was insufficient to establish a solid case against him. Consequently, charges could not be brought, and he remained at large for many years.

It was only with the advent of improved scientific techniques, which were employed in 2018, that the evidence against him was revisited. These advancements played a crucial role in solving an earlier Bedford rape case from 1999, for which Kargbo-Reffell was already serving a 12-year sentence. The recent case was reopened as part of Operation Painter, a comprehensive investigation by a specialized crime unit focusing on non-recent sexual offenses.

In the recent trial, it was established that Kargbo-Reffell had lured a 14-year-old girl to a friend's flat in Bedford. There, he manipulated her into consuming alcohol and subsequently committed the sexual assault. The court heard how he targeted a vulnerable young girl, exploiting her trust and innocence.

The judge commended the bravery of the victim, who provided a statement to the court describing the profound and lasting impact of the assault on her life. She stated, “His actions have had a massive impact on my life, he has destroyed my mental and physical health. Destroying my reputation, the trust I have in other people, relations with family members and partners, stealing the last part of my childhood which I should have been allowed to enjoy as a young teenager, turning into an adult.”

Detective Superintendent Emma Pitts described Kargbo-Reffell’s actions as a “predatory and calculated attack.” She emphasized that he was fully aware of what he was doing, targeting a vulnerable girl and believing he could evade justice.

She also highlighted the progress made in responding to such crimes, noting that technological advancements and evolving investigative approaches have significantly improved the ability of law enforcement to bring offenders to justice. The case underscores the importance of persistent investigation and the power of modern forensic science in solving cold cases and delivering justice for victims.