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| Welder gets life for sex attacks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who remained at large for four years after a police DNA blunder has been jailed for life for a series of sex attacks on girls and young women. | |
| Welder Mark Campbell, 38, of Grenville Gardens, Donnington, Chichester, was convicted at Chichester Crown Court. | Welder Mark Campbell, 38, of Grenville Gardens, Donnington, Chichester, was convicted at Chichester Crown Court. |
| He carried out the offences, including rape and indecent assault, in the Bognor Regis and Chichester areas of West Sussex between 1998 and 2004. | He carried out the offences, including rape and indecent assault, in the Bognor Regis and Chichester areas of West Sussex between 1998 and 2004. |
| Campbell, who denied all charges, was told he would serve at least 12 years. | |
| He was convicted of four counts of indecent assault, three counts of rape, two counts of false imprisonment and one count of attempted indecent assault on Monday. | He was convicted of four counts of indecent assault, three counts of rape, two counts of false imprisonment and one count of attempted indecent assault on Monday. |
| Having taken this particular sample, we didn't send it off for processing. That had consequences in that Campbell was at large for four years Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Paine | |
| Campbell was also found guilty of one count of sexual assault and two counts of burglary. | Campbell was also found guilty of one count of sexual assault and two counts of burglary. |
| He was cleared of one count of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault. | He was cleared of one count of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault. |
| Campbell was sentenced to life imprisonment, and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years, minus the time he has already served in custody. | |
| The court heard that Campbell preyed on vulnerable girls and young women in their homes or isolated areas of Bognor Regis and Chichester over a six year period. | |
| He first stuck in 1998 when he indecently assaulted a 27-year-old women in her house. | |
| DNA 'oversight' | |
| Jurors were told that a serious error by police investigating the attacks allowed him to remain at large. | |
| Prosecutor Christine Laing said he was arrested over a suspected "peeping Tom" offence in 2002 but an "oversight" meant his DNA swab was not sent off for analysis until a case review four years later. | |
| She said the delay did not impact on the evidential effect of the DNA match. | |
| Ms Laing added: "Where it does impact, however is in the delay in bringing this matter to trial and the effect that has on the recollection of everyone involved." | |
| 'No excuses' | |
| Following the trial Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Paine said: "There are no excuses. Having taken this particular sample, we didn't send it off for processing. | |
| "That had consequences in that Campbell was at large for four years longer than he should have been. | |
| "It should not have happened and we are very sorry that it did. | |
| "We have done everything we can to learn the lessons so that nothing like it can happen again." |