A 75-year-old man, identified as David Hill, has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman using a knife over four decades ago. The incident took place in an underground parking lot in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on September 7, 1985, when the victim, returning to her vehicle after a night out, was attacked. Despite her detailed statement to the police and forensic evidence collected from her clothing, the perpetrator remained unidentified at the time. Tragically, the victim passed away 12 years later without seeing justice served.
In 2018, South Yorkshire Police reopened the case as a cold case review. Through a reexamination of the initial evidence, authorities were able to match the attacker’s DNA profile, which was previously unidentifiable in the national database. The DNA was retested in 2021, connecting it to Hill, whose DNA had been added to the database following an arrest for a separate offense.
Hill, residing on Broom Valley Road in Rotherham, denied the rape charges but was found guilty after a week-long trial at Sheffield Crown Court. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on March 20.
Dave Stopford, the head of the Major Incident Review Team at the police force, explained the legal steps taken due to the victim’s passing. He praised the victim’s family and friends for providing evidence of her character, supporting the court’s decision to consider her original statement as hearsay evidence.
Stopford also expressed admiration for the victim’s bravery during the initial investigation and extended condolences to her loved ones. Despite the victim’s absence to witness Hill’s conviction, he emphasized the police’s dedication to seeking justice and acknowledged the victim’s significant role in helping with the case.
