Masked rapist jailed for past cold case

Six years for David Sharpe

A Devon man has been jailed after being convicted of raping a student in Leeds almost 50 years ago. 

David Sharpe, who's 66 and from Copland Meadow in Totnes, broke into the room of an 18-year-old woman in the early hours of the 2nd of October 1977.

This was the victim's first night after moving to Leeds for university. Sharpe scoured out the property hours before assaulting her, wearing a ski mask. 

The offence was reported and investigated at the time, but no suspect was identified. However,  Sharpe was arrested in 2023 after a cold case review matched his DNA to the profile of the attacker. 

Mr Sharpe was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of indecent assault following a trial at Leeds Crown Court last month.

He's been sentenced to six years in prison and will be on the sex offenders register for life and has a restraining order against the women.

Detective Inspector Stephen King said “The victim has been incredibly courageous after all these years to go through the court process. No prison sentence can make up for the ongoing trauma the victim has endured over 48 years in the way it has mapped her life.

We know she now feels justice has been served. She knows she was believed and is grateful for the work the team has done to secure the conviction in court and for supporting her through the whole process. “