A ‘BRAVE and determined’ rape victim has been praised by police after her attacker was jailed today, nearly 30 years after the assault.

Andrew Charles Pennington, now aged 53 and from Rawcliffe, was handed a 10-year prison sentence at York Crown Court following a cold case review by Cleveland and North Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Team.

The court heard how Pennington, who was 24 and working as a forklift driver at the time of the attack, had been on a night out in York city centre in October, 1988 when he approached his victim in the Castlegate area.

He pushed her into a building and raped her before fleeing.

Following a cold case review by police, Pennington admitted carrying out the attack, saying “I’ve been expecting this one day”.

He pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault, as well as three house burglaries in Beverley in early 1997 during which jewellery, electrical items and both women's and children’s underwear was stolen.

In a statement, the York victim urged other rape victims to come forward and thanked police for their support.

She said: “The last few months have certainly been a roller coaster of emotions for me.

“The news that a suspect had been arrested for the attack on me brought the events of 29 years ago crashing back into my life; a life that I had only recently begun to feel confident about.

“Whilst I acknowledge the fact that the defendant admitted the offence, thereby sparing me the ordeal of giving evidence in court, this did nothing to lessen the impact that the attack has had on my life over the last 29 years.

“The events of that night changed my life forever - because one man decided to do what he did.  I do not, however, consider myself to be a victim. 

“I am a survivor and thanks to the diligence and hard work of North Yorkshire and Cleveland Police and their Cold Case Review team, the man who attempted to make me otherwise is now beginning a prison sentence.”

Police praised her bravery and Detective Inspector Steve Menzies, who led the investigation for the Cleveland and North Yorkshire Major Investigation Team, said: “Pennington was getting on with his life whilst the victim in this case spent three decades knowing that nobody had been brought to justice for the crimes committed against her.

"That is an incredible burden for anyone to bear.

“I praise her bravery and determination given that the arrest of Pennington, 29 years after the attack, will have renewed memories of the incident.

“I hope that the prison sentence gives her some comfort that the man responsible has been brought to justice.”