Forensic advances bring hope for 1984 Coventry rape victim

Liz, not her real name, said she was raped in 1984 in Coventry

A woman who was raped in 1984 said she hoped forensic advances over the past 40 years could help find her attacker.

Liz - not her real name - was a student in Coventry at the time of the assault and said she simply wanted justice.

Inspired by forensic advances she saw on TV programmes about solving historic cases, she said she contacted West Midlands Police.

Detectives from the force said they have discovered forensic evidence from the time.

However, the original case files cannot be found and officers said they feared they may have been destroyed.

The force now wants people who helped Liz in the Canley area of the city at the time to come forward.

Liz said the attack happened on the first day of spring term in January 1984 as she walked along a footpath to the university campus library at about 18:00 GMT.

Detectives said they have discovered forensic evidence from the time but struggled to find the original cases files and feared they might have been destroyed

"I was jumped on from behind and somebody's hand was put over my mouth and a knife was put in my neck and he said 'if you scream, I'll kill you'," she said.

"So I decided not to scream and to do whatever it took to stay alive."

Her attacker led her into a dark area between the street lights, on to nearby football pitches where he sexually assaulted her.

Liz said she encountered another student after the attack who she approached for help, telling him she had just been raped.

He took her to a house in Kirkby Corner where she said a couple then helped her.

If you're affected by issues highlighted in this report, you can find support at BBC Action Line.

She said she decided to reach out to police 40 years later as forensic investigations had advanced so much from what she saw on TV.

"If he was 20 to 30 then, he'd be 60 to 70 now - odds on he's still alive. I want him found. I want justice," she said.

She urged other historical rape victims to contact police, given improvements in forensics.

Liz said she was determined the rape would not ruin her life but wanted her attacker punished.

"He tried to wreck my life but it didn't work," she added.

Det Insp Rachel Gregory said the force was examining several forensic submissions in the case

Det Insp Rachel Gregory, from West Midlands Police, said while the force had struggled to track down the paperwork, they were examining several forensic submissions in the case.

Attempts were being made to track down the student who helped her to get his memories of the time, she added.

"A rapist is a rapist and they need to know they will be pursued - lawfully but relentlessly - by West Midlands Police for perpetrating this sort of offence," Det Insp Gregory added.