Man Jailed For 1989 Rape

A man who raped a young woman at knifepoint in 1989 has been jailed for nine years.

Winston Millington, 45, of Chandos Road NW2, attacked his victim, who was 25 at the time, on 10 January 1989 in MaxRoachPark, Brixton.

Despite a full police investigation at the time and widespread media coverage which included the issuing of a photofit, there were no arrests until the case was reviewed Metropolitan Police in 2008.

As part of the cold case review, DNA samples taken after the attack were re-examined by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) and one was subsequently upgraded, which matched Millington's profile on the National DNA Database.

He was arrested on the morning of 26 August 2009, charged the same day and convicted on Monday at Southwark Crown Court. Millington was sentenced to nine years for rape and five for indecent assault, to run concurrently.

Detective Sergeant Amanda Whorwood of the Cold Case team said: "Millington subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal and has rightly been imprisoned for a considerable period of time.

"He never admitted responsibility for the attack and has shown little in the way of remorse, so it is pleasing that technological advances since 1989 have allowed us to put him where he belongs, behind bars.

"I know the victim in this case was particularly delighted that after all this time, we were able to hold her attacker to account."

(PR/GK)