DONALD ROBERTSON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN SLOUGH AND TAPLOW LAKE REVEALED

In a significant development in a series of long-standing criminal cases, Donald Robertson, a 66-year-old man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses, has been found guilty of multiple heinous crimes committed over a span of more than two decades in the Slough area. The verdict was delivered at Reading Crown Court on May 17, 2022, after a detailed trial that brought to light the extent of Robertson's predatory behavior and the crucial role of modern forensic science in solving cold cases.

Robertson's criminal activities include the murder of Shani Warren in 1987, a case that had remained unresolved for decades. Ms. Warren's body was discovered at the edge of Taplow Lake, near Slough, on April 18, 1987. Her vehicle was found abandoned in a layby along the A4, with evidence suggesting a struggle. The car contained bin bags with grass remnants from her recently mowed lawn and an Easter egg in the footwell. Her wrists had been bound with a car jump lead, her ankles with a tow rope, and she was gagged. A pathologist concluded that her death resulted from drowning, with a strong possibility of prior strangulation.

Initially, authorities suspected her death might have been a suicide, as there were no clear signs of sexual assault or defensive wounds, and it was believed she could have applied the bindings herself. Despite this, the case was treated as suspicious, but insufficient evidence prevented charges from being filed at the time. An inquest in 1987 returned an open verdict, leaving the circumstances of her death unresolved.

Six years earlier, in 1981, a 16-year-old girl was attacked and raped while walking home in Slough. Robertson was arrested at that time but was released after the victim failed to identify him during an identity parade. Although she later identified him directly to police, procedural limitations at the time meant that this identification was not enough to secure charges. It was only with recent advances in forensic science that new evidence emerged, linking Robertson to both crimes.

Recent forensic investigations by Thames Valley Police’s cold case team uncovered traces of Robertson’s DNA on the gag found in Ms. Warren’s mouth—something that was not swabbed during the initial investigation—and on her bra. A pathologist, reviewing the new evidence alongside previous findings, concluded that someone else might have been involved in her death, casting doubt on earlier assumptions. However, the prosecution emphasized that the new DNA evidence was the cornerstone of their case against Robertson, with matches found on the underwear of both victims and on the mouth gag used on Ms. Warren.

Further testing of evidence from the 1981 attack revealed a DNA profile matching Robertson’s, strengthening the case. The Crown Prosecution Service presented this compelling forensic evidence during the trial, supported by testimonies from witnesses who knew Ms. Warren and could speak to her state of mind at the time of her death. The prosecution also argued that Robertson’s prior convictions for sexual offenses spanning over thirty years demonstrated a pattern of predatory behavior, making the DNA findings highly unlikely to be coincidental.

In addition to the murder and rape charges, Robertson was convicted of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and indecent assault. Specifically, he was found guilty of one count of kidnapping, one count of rape from 1981, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of indecent assault. His criminal record is extensive, and police described him as an 'evil' individual with a 'long and horrific list of previous convictions.' They expressed regret that, at the time of the 1981 attack, there was not enough evidence to charge him with the rape of the teenage girl in Slough.

It was revealed that Robertson’s criminal conduct extended beyond these cases. Just days after being released from police custody in connection with an unspecified offense, he raped a 14-year-old girl, to which he pleaded guilty in October 1981. Less than two months after the murder of Ms. Warren and the attack on the 16-year-old girl, Robertson raped a 17-year-old girl walking home after missing her last train. He is currently incarcerated for that crime, having been convicted in 2010 after the case was reviewed by the police’s cold case team.

Robertson’s sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2022, at Reading Crown Court, where he faces the consequences of his extensive criminal history and the recent convictions. The case highlights the importance of advancements in forensic science in bringing long-standing offenders to justice and underscores the tragic impact of his actions on the victims and their families.