Kenneth Wells 66

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A man has been jailed for 15 years for raping a 71-year-old woman more than 40 years ago.

Kenneth Wells, 63, of Verona Road, Salisbury, broke into Violet Brown's house, raped her and locked her inside in November 1980.

The case was solved after officers re-tested evidence using DNA technology.

The judge told Wells, who was arrested and released at the time of the offence, he had subjected Ms Brown to "the most terrifying circumstances".

Wells previously also admitted burglary and false imprisonment at Salisbury Crown Court on 1 September.

Ms Brown lived alone in Collingbourne Ducis, in Wiltshire, and because Wells locked her in, had to wait until morning before she was able to alert her neighbours and the police.

Wells was arrested shortly afterwards and remained the prime suspect, but there was never enough evidence to charge him until June this year.

'Utterly traumatised'

Wells broke into the house with at least one other man while Ms Brown was sleeping.

The men, wearing stocking masks, shone torches in her face and yelled abuse at her during the attack.

Sentencing Wells at Winchester Crown Court, Judge Angela Morris told him: "It doesn't bear imagination how terrified she [Ms Brown] must have been.

"This is a case of some of the most abject humiliation, threats and violation towards a vulnerable and helpless elderly lady who was left utterly traumatised and physically injured by this appalling experience at your hands.

"Not only did you rob her of her possessions, you also robbed of her everything she held dear, including her independence."

Wiltshire Police reopened the cold case last year and using the latest in DNA technology, were able to confirm a direct match between the hair and fibre samples recovered from the original scene and Wells.

Accomplice still sought

Det Ch Insp Darren Hannant said: "There is no doubt that this horrendous attack had a lasting impact on Ms Brown, who had to live with the memory of this traumatic incident for the rest of her life.

"Wells committed a truly despicable crime and probably thought he had got away with it.

"But no unsolved serious case is ever completely closed. I am proud that we have finally been able to convict Wells and see him pay the price for what he did."

Detectives said the sentencing should come as a warning to Wells' accomplice who watched him rape Ms Brown, as they hope that DNA will eventually reveal his identity too.

Rape victims have the right to anonymity for life, but because Ms Brown died in 1996, she has been named and her family have released a photograph of her.

Wells was sentenced to 15 years in prison and an additional six years on licence for the rape.

He was also sentenced to three years for burglary and three years for false imprisonment, to run concurrently.