A man from Uxbridge has been jailed for 11 years following his conviction for a brutal sexual assault committed more than three decades ago. On 2 September, Billy Roy Day, 50, of Cumbrian Way, Uxbridge, appeared at Southwark Crown Court where he was sentenced for offences including rape, buggery, and indecent assault against a 19-year-old woman in 1984.
The attack occurred on 7 December 1984 in Shirehall Lane Park, Hendon. The victim, a young au pair who had only been in London for six weeks, was walking through the park at around 19:30hrs on her way to meet a friend for a cinema outing. She was ambushed by a man who threatened her with a knife, leading to her being raped, subjected to buggery, and indecently assaulted. Despite an immediate police investigation, no significant leads emerged at the time, and the victim soon returned to her native country.
The case remained unsolved for years until advancements in forensic science provided a breakthrough. In 1998, samples collected from the victim and her clothing were re-examined, yielding a DNA profile of the offender that was entered into the national database. However, no match was found initially. It was not until 2013, when Day's DNA was uploaded to the database, that a match was identified—a one-in-a-billion link to the forensic evidence from the scene. Day, who lived very close to the park at the time of the offence and matched the suspect's description, became the prime suspect.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command's Complex Case Team reinvestigated the matter. With assistance from Europol, they located the victim in her home country and informed her of the developments. Fresh forensic testing on the victim's clothing confirmed the DNA match. Day was interviewed on 20 August 2013 but declined to answer questions. He was charged with rape and indecent assault, and on 28 July, a jury at Southwark Crown Court found him guilty on all counts: one of rape, one of buggery, and one of indecent assault.
Sentencing details include 11 years' imprisonment for the rape, 11 years for buggery, and 21 months for indecent assault, all to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 11-year term. Day was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Investigating officer Detective Constable Gary Farrelly commented: 'Day's sentence reflects the severity of the crime he committed - one he thought he had got away with all those years ago. It was highly rewarding to be able to locate the victim and tell her that after all these years the man that had so brutally attacked her had been identified and arrested. I hope she now takes some comfort in the fact he will spend a considerable time in prison.' Farrelly added that the case should encourage other victims to report sexual offences, emphasising the police's commitment to justice regardless of time passed. He thanked international colleagues for their support in the investigation.
The case, reported by the Hillingdon Times, highlights the enduring impact of cold case reviews and international cooperation in tackling historical sexual crimes. The Metropolitan Police led the probe, demonstrating persistence in seeking accountability for serious offences.