Man jailed for 1990s rapes

A double rapist caught nearly 20 years after his first rape was jailed for 16 years today.

Frank Watson was arrested after his DNA matched that found on two rape victims from the 1990s, the Old Bailey heard.

The 47-year-old, of Gibbon Close, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was initially arrested for possessing 136 indecent images, some involving children.

During the following investigation, police found the link to two cold-case rapes from 1991 and 1997.

Watson initially denied the rapes and said he had only had sex with his wife since they married in 1988.

The judge, Recorder Brian O'Neill QC, said: "You caused two women to relive their ordeals from 20 years ago again.

"You have not shown a shred of remorse for your actions.

"These were totally dreadful crimes and the only sentence to pass upon you is a very lengthy sentence."

Watson gasped as the judge handed him two concurrent 16-year sentences for rape and one year, also concurrently, for nine counts of possessing indecent images.

On September 13, 1991, Watson grabbed a 22-year-old woman as she was walking home in Potters Bar.

He dragged her down, threatened to stab her and raped her before making an escape. The victim ran home to her parents and reported the rape immediately.

The judge said the victim and her family were "devastated" and that the attack "changed her life forever".

Six years later, Watson attacked an 18-year-old in Aberford Park, Borehamwood.

Scotland Yard said he grabbed her from behind by the neck and said: "You better lie down before I stab you, or I'll cut you into little pieces."

He raped the teenager and then, as with the first victim, left her where she was attacked.

The victim went straight to a friend's house and called the police.

The Metropolitan Police were able to catch Watson thanks to advances in forensic technology since the rapes.

PA