Man jailed for 1986 rape in Kent

The judge ordered Dyne be placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

A man who raped an 18-year-old Kent woman at knifepoint in 1986 has been jailed for eight years.

Paul James Dyne, now 45, dragged his victim to waste ground in Deal, attacked her and left her there.

Detectives took DNA samples at the time and developments in forensic science over the past two decades led to him being identified and charged last year.

Dyne, of New Malden, south-west London, admitted the rape and was jailed for eight years at Maidstone Crown Court.

Jailing him, Judge Philip Statman said: "This must be every woman's worst nightmare. You have terrified the woman and shown no mercy.

"The police caught up with you 24 years later when you probably thought you had got away with it."

The judge ordered that Dyne be placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Terrible crime

The victim went out to buy milk when she felt a gloved hand placed over her mouth.

She was dragged to waste ground in Ark Lane where Dyne told her he had a knife before covering her eyes with a scarf and raping her.

Officers investigated the attack but no-one was charged until last year.

Dyne was held at his home on 22 December and was charged later the same day.

DNA had been re-examined and identified as a one in a billion match with his profile, police said.

Det Ch Insp Dave Withers, of Kent Police, said: "In 1986 a young woman's life was changed dramatically by this horrific, unprovoked attack.

"Twenty four years have passed since then and she has lived with this every day.

"We hope today with the conviction of Dyne for this terrible crime she is now able in some way to move on with her life."