KENNETH WELLS ARRESTED IN SALISBURY FOR 1980 RAPE OF 71-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN COLLINGBOURNE DUCIS

In a significant development in a decades-old cold case, Kenneth Wells, a 63-year-old man from Salisbury, has admitted to the brutal rape of a 71-year-old woman in her own home in Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire, more than 40 years ago. The case, which had remained unresolved since the attack in 1980, was reopened last summer thanks to advancements in DNA technology that ultimately led to Wells's arrest and subsequent charges.

According to reports, Violet Brown, a resident of Collingbourne Ducis who lived alone, was awakened in the early hours by the sound of an intruder entering her residence. The perpetrator, later identified as Kenneth Wells, entered her bedroom and committed a heinous assault. After the attack, Wells fled the scene, locking Ms Brown inside her home before making his escape. The elderly woman had to wait until the following morning before she was able to alert her neighbors and contact the police, a delay that likely complicated the investigation.

Following the incident, Wells was quickly identified as a suspect and was arrested shortly thereafter. Despite his arrest, authorities lacked sufficient evidence at the time to formally charge him, and the case remained open but unresolved for decades. The file was kept by Wiltshire Police and was periodically re-examined over the years in hopes of uncovering new leads or evidence that could bring the case to a close.

It was only last summer that the Major Crime Team decided to revisit the cold case, utilizing the latest DNA analysis techniques. This renewed effort proved fruitful when forensic evidence recovered from the original crime scene was matched directly to Wells, confirming his involvement in the 1980 assault. As a result, Wells was arrested at his residence on Verona Road in Salisbury in June and faced charges of burglary, rape, and false imprisonment.

Sadly, Violet Brown passed away in February 1996 at the age of 87, never knowing that her attacker had finally been identified and brought to justice. Today, at Salisbury Crown Court, Kenneth Wells appeared and pleaded guilty to the charges of burglary, rape, and false imprisonment related to the incident that occurred in the early hours of November 6, 1980. His admission marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for Ms Brown and her family, ending a long chapter of uncertainty and pain.