Shaun Harrison

Shaun Harrison, a 46-year-old resident of Orchard Road in Plymouth, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court for historical sexual offences committed over two decades ago. The case, which relied heavily on DNA evidence, brought closure to long-standing investigations into violent assaults against women in the city.

In September 1989, Harrison attacked a 16-year-old girl in Plymouth city centre. Early on a Friday evening, he dragged her into an alleyway where he raped her and committed two counts of indecent assault. The victim, a teenager at the time, endured years without justice until advancements in forensic science linked Harrison to the crime through DNA evidence. Harrison had denied the charges but was found guilty following a trial in March of the current year.

At the same court hearing on Tuesday, Harrison received an eight-year custodial sentence for the 1989 offences. Additionally, he was sentenced to a further four years for the rape of another woman in 1994, bringing the total period of imprisonment to twelve years. The convictions were secured by Devon and Cornwall Police, whose persistent efforts in cold case reviews proved instrumental.

Stuart Butler, a former officer with Devon and Cornwall Police who was involved in the original investigation, expressed relief at the outcome. In a statement to the BBC, he said: 'I am so pleased the offender has been identified after so much time has elapsed, and made to answer for his actions. Although it will not take the pain away from the victim, it will allow her to have some closure with the fact that justice has finally been done.' Butler highlighted the importance of DNA technology in resolving the case, noting that it provided the breakthrough after 23 years.

The sentencing underscores the commitment of UK law enforcement to pursuing historical sexual offences, ensuring that perpetrators face consequences regardless of the passage of time. Harrison's address in Plymouth places him within the jurisdiction of Devon and Cornwall Police, who led the prosecution.