`Cold case' team traps 1992 rapist.

Byline: By Michael Woods

A drifter who raped a stranger in a seaside park almost 12 years ago has been brought to justice with the aid of advances in DNA technology.

Stanley Riches was a teenager when he and an accomplice carried out a horrific attack after grabbing their victim as she left a telephone kiosk in Ocean Road, South Shields in January 1992.

They dragged her into nearby North Marine Park, stabbed her repeatedly with a needle then raped her in turn in a brick shelter.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the traumatised woman who was covered in bruises, scratch and needle marks was finally able to escape and immediately reported the attack.

But it was only this year Riches was arrested as a result of pioneering Operation Phoenix set up by Northumbria Police to solve undetected crimes using the latest DNA forensic evidence-gathering techniques.

Sunderland-born Riches, 30, of Oxcar, Mayhouse, Edinburgh, admitted he had used the park in 1992 to sniff glue, take heroin, drink alcohol and have consensual sex with young women - once in the shelter taking in turns with another man. But he denied rape.

However, a jury yesterday found him guilty of rape and he was jailed for nine years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Judge Tim Hewitt said he took into account that Riches had had no convictions either before or since 1992 for violent or sexual offences the attack was as serious a case of rape as could be envisaged and the evidence had been overwhelming.

He said: "The only reason why this now comes before the court in 2003 is because of the advance of scientific technology and investigation and, of course, the efforts of people in seeking to review historic cases. The fact it has taken that long to bring you to justice does not in any way mitigate the seriousness of what occurred back in 1992."