Rapist jailed over 1977 attack after cold case DNA match

A man has been jailed for raping a student in Leeds almost 50 years ago after a cold case review led to a DNA breakthrough. David Sharp, 66, climbed up a fire escape and smashed a window to break into the 18-year-old woman's room in the early hours of 2 October 1977, before assaulting her while wearing a ski mask. The woman, who had returned home on her first night in the city after moving there to study at university, said she was still affected by the "trauma" of the event. Sharp, 66, from Totnes, Devon, was jailed for six years at Leeds Crown Court, having been found guilty of rape and indecent assault following a trial last month. Prosecutor Jayne Beckett said Sharp, then aged 17 and living in Leeds, had entered the woman's room on the top floor "in the dead of night". The court heard how he had visited the property earlier in the evening before returning at about 03:00 wearing a face covering. Judge Stubbs said the offence had taken place "right in the middle of the Yorkshire Ripper's killings, which haunted the Headingley community". "As a resident in the city I can remember the atmosphere," he added. West Yorkshire Police previously said the offence was reported at the time,

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