Kennedy Jimmy

A man has been found guilty of raping a teenager in Shefford back in 2006 following a significant DNA breakthrough that connected him to the offence almost 20 years after it occurred.

Kennedy Jimmy, 44, of Wessex Court, Sunny Bank, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was convicted of rape on October 20 after a five-day trial at Luton Crown Court. The offence took place on October 7, 2006, when Jimmy, then aged 25, met the victim and her friend in a supermarket car park in Shefford. Arriving in a car driven by a friend, Jimmy waited until the others had entered the shop before pulling the victim into the back of the vehicle and raping her. The victim managed to escape and fled to a nearby pub, where her friend contacted the police.

Despite thorough investigations at the time, Jimmy, known to the victim only as 'Kenny', was not identified. However, as part of Operation Painter—a review of non-recent rape and sexual assault cases conducted by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit—a DNA match was eventually established, leading to his arrest in November 2022.

Detective Constable Rhian Batterham-Jones of Bedfordshire Police commented on the case: "Jimmy was able to carry on living his life while the victim endured the long-term trauma of rape. However, he couldn't escape his despicable crime forever and justice has finally prevailed." She emphasised the force's commitment to pursuing perpetrators of violent and sexual offences against women, regardless of the time elapsed, and praised the victim's courage in reliving the ordeal. "I am pleased that because of the advances in forensic science, we have been able to put another sexual predator behind bars, where he belongs," she added.

The conviction underscores the importance of ongoing forensic reviews in cold cases, ensuring that justice can be achieved even after many years. Jimmy is due to be sentenced on December 23 at Luton Crown Court.