Man jailed for rape of girl virtually 50 years in the past after DNA breakthrough
David Sharp was convicted of rape and indecent assault following a DNA cold case review by West Yorkshire Police, nearly five decades after he attacked a woman
David Sharp was sentenced to six years in prison at Leeds Crown Court
A rapist has finally been put behind bars nearly 50 years after a terrifying attack, thanks to a modern DNA breakthrough. David Sharp was just 17 when he shattered a bedroom window and launched a sickening assault on an 18-year-old student.
The victim had arrived in Leeds to start her university life just hours before her world was turned upside down. The predator fled the scene after being startled by a noise, leaving his traumatised victim to alert the authorities.
While police back in the 1970s managed to secure swab samples from the scene, the trail went cold for decades without a suspect to match them to.
The breakthrough finally came when West Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Review Team reopened the case. Forensic experts successfully pulled a DNA profile from the decades-old evidence.
The profile didn’t initially match anyone on the database, but investigators spotted a similar profile belonging to one of Sharp’s close relatives and further tests confirmed he was a 100 per cent match.
Sharp, now 66, was found guilty of rape and indecent assault following a trial at Leeds Crown Court. Today he was sentenced to six years in prison.
He was also slapped with a lifetime restraining order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
In a powerful statement, the survivor, described by police as “incredibly courageous,” told the court how the attack had haunted her life.
She said: “On 2 October 1977, I was just 18 years and three months old when I arrived in Leeds to start my degree course.
“My heart aches for that young woman. It was to be the start of me being more independent, spreading my wings and exploring the city of Leeds and the world.
“I had such enormous hope, potential and the world to explore. This was all stolen away from me that night. Years later, I reflect on that time in October 1977 and think of my poor parents who left me in Leeds that night, believing that I was safe from harm.
“Never could they have imagined that such a horrendous act would befall their youngest daughter. The events of that night massively affected them as well as my siblings.
“I have carried the events of that night in my head for almost 49 years; it has dominated my life. There is not a day that passes that it does not run through my mind like a horror film on continual repeat.
“The not knowing who was responsible for the rape and sexual assault has tormented me for all those years, causing great stress and anxiety.”
She added: “I had never seen a photograph of you David Sharp until the conclusion of the trial in March 2026, so I had no idea what you looked like.
“But you knew what I looked like and that has always been a source of great anxiety. Even when the police finally caught up with you, you continued to lie and deny the offences you committed against me.
“You must be a delusional, cowardly individual, who is cruel to the core. You have no regard for women. And for the first time in 49 years, you are no longer in control of this situation.”
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Stephen King, from the WYP’s Major Investigation Review Team, 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 that the victim has endured over 48 years and the way it mapped her life.
“We know she now feels justice has been served, she knows she was believed and is grateful for the work that the team have done to get the conviction at court and also in supporting her through the whole process.
“Forensic science is continually developing, and we will continue to utilise all available scientific advancements to solve cases, protect the public and get victims the outcomes they deserve.”
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