RAYMOND ELLIS AND HIS SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BRISTOL AND SHEFFIELD
Raymond Ellis, a man originally from Bristol and formerly of Sheffield, has been convicted for a heinous and carefully planned attack that took place over three decades ago.The conviction comes after a long and painstaking investigation that ultimately led to his sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, where he received a five-year prison term for the crime of indecent assault.
The assault in question occurred late at night on March 15, 1987, just as the victim, a 17-year-old girl, was walking home after a night out with friends.
The young woman became aware of someone following her as she approached her residence.
Realizing she was being stalked, she started to run, but in the chaos, one of her shoes slipped off.
She noticed her pursuer pick up her shoe and then suddenly, she was struck on the head, losing consciousness briefly.
When she regained her senses, the attacker had physically seized her and was dragging her along a nearby pathway that leads toward Earl Marshall School Fields, located behind Skinnerthorpe Road in Sheffield.
The assailant then committed a series of further violent acts, including removing an article of her clothing which he used to bind her feet.
The attacker forced her to perform a sexual act against her will.
After the assault, he ordered her to lie face down on the ground before fleeing the scene.
The victim managed to escape and sought help at a nearby telephone box, where she promptly contacted the police to report the assault.
Despite the extensive forensic investigations carried out at the time, no suspect was identified, and the case went cold for many years.
Advances in forensic technology, however, allowed authorities to revisit the evidence.
A further analysis of the old evidence was conducted, which ultimately provided a significant breakthrough.
A DNA profile obtained from the outer sleeve of the leather jacket the victim was wearing that night matched Raymond Ellis’s genetic material.
Ellis was arrested in August 2019 based on this new evidence.
During police interviews, the 60-year-old claimed to have no memory of the incident, citing a brain injury he sustained in 1997 when he was attacked with pickaxe handles by poachers at a salmon farm in Scotland.
He refused to respond to any further questions and made no admissions regarding his whereabouts or involvement at the time of the assault.
South Yorkshire Police have publicly supported the victim’s resilience throughout this long ordeal.
Dave Stopford, the head of the Major Incident Review Team, expressed his condolences and appreciation for her patience and bravery.
He emphasized that this case exemplifies how new scientific techniques can uncover the truth even after more than 30 years.
“This was a horrific attack on a 17-year-old girl as she made her way home from a night out.
The victim has had to live with this for the past 33 years not knowing who her attacker was.
We thank the victim for her patience and resilience during this difficult investigation in which she had to re-live a traumatic incident.
She has shown immense courage, patience and trust in us to do so.
The attack has significantly impacted her life ever since.
This conviction today has provided some closure to the victim, but continues to have serious consequences for her,” he stated.
The surprise arrest of Ellis was a result of the application of scientific forensic techniques that were unavailable at the time of the original investigation.
Ellis appeared visibly shocked when police took him into custody, likely believing he had successfully evaded detection.
The authorities hope this case sends a clear message to other potential offenders: no matter how much time passes, justice can still be served.
The police’s review team is actively examining numerous other historic sexual assault cases, focusing on cases that previously went unresolved.
Investigating Officer Rachel Morton discussed the complexity of this investigation, given its age and the technological challenges, but praised the invaluable role of forensic scientists in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
The case highlights the importance of cutting-edge forensic science in solving cold cases and ensuring that offenders are held accountable regardless of how long ago their crimes were committed.
