A man has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years for the assault and attempted rape of an 86-year-old woman in north London 23 years ago, following a cold case investigation by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service.
Roderick Russell, 39 (14.10.76) of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty and was sentenced at the Old Bailey.
Detective Constable Dean Grafton, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This case demonstrates our commitment to investigating serious sexual offences irrespective of the time that has elapsed since they have been committed.
“Russell truly believed he had evaded justice for this most terrifying attack against a vulnerable elderly victim who has since passed away and so was sadly not able to witness justice against her attacker. I hope today’s result brings some comfort to her family, and am pleased this violent criminal will not be free to cause further harm to the public."
The Old Bailey
The Old Bailey
The elderly victim, who passed away in 1996, returned to her home in Camden on 8 January 1993 having been shopping. Unknown to her, Russell was following her, and when she reached her front door he pushed her into the flat and forced her onto her bed, before trying to rape her.
Russell then indecently assaulted and strangled her as she lay defenceless. He continued to assault her before stealing cash and jewellery from the property.
Luckily the victim was able to seek help from a neighbour and police were called to the scene. Officers arrived to discover the victim bruised and bleeding. She was immediately taken to hospital and diagnosed with suspected broken ribs and a broken arm.
Despite numerous inquiries by detectives, the suspect remained unidentified at the time. A number of items were however stored for the purposes of future investigative opportunities.
In 2014, the Complex Case Team conducted a review of the unsolved case. Following a full forensic examination of clothing seized at the time of the original investigation, items were sent to the laboratory for further testing. DNA was discovered on three items, including a pornographic magazine the suspect had left at the scene. That DNA when inputted into the system came up with a hit to Roderick Russell.
Russell’s DNA profile was on the database following his identification, and subsequent conviction in 1997, for the attempted rape and false imprisonment of an 81-year-old woman in 1993. For that offence he received an indeterminate sentence - which he was still serving when arrested in connection with this incident.
At the time (1997), officers had considered whether Russell could be responsible for the 1993 incident, but there was insufficient evidence to link him to the offence. This review, however, gave police the breakthrough and definitive evidence needed to secure a conviction.
On 21 April 2015, two officers attended HMP Whitemoor to interview Russell in relation to the cold case investigation. On approaching him, he became unexpectedly violent, throwing a tape recorder at them - hitting one in the cheekbone. He received a 20-month custodial sentence for actual bodily harm.
Russell was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for attempted rape and two years and three months for actual bodily harm. The sentences will run concurrently.