Admin l Friday, January 13, 2017
OLD BAILEY, London – A rapist jailed almost three decades ago who confessed to two further offences and has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey.
Michael Chandler, 53 of no fixed address, pleaded guilty on Friday, 13 January to one count of rape committed in Harrow on 27 March 1986.
He previously pleaded guilty in 2014 to a second count of rape and false imprisonment in relation to a rape committed in Harrow on 1 March 1986. He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, 16 January.
Between 1985 and 1987 Chandler carried out a series of vicious attacks on young women across north-west London. A number of offences against ten separate victims were investigated, of which offences against nine victims were put before the court.
On 18 March 1988, Chandler was convicted at the Old Bailey for a number of offences, significantly six counts of rape; however he was acquitted in relation to offences against three victims. He was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 14 years’. Chandler has remained in custody since this conviction.
Following a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in 2010 all UK police forces were required to review whether the safety of convictions prior to December 1990 might be affected by developments in DNA testing technology.
In 2012 Detectives from the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command reviewed Chandler’s 1988 conviction as well as a review of the tenth investigation which Chandler had not stood trial for. Forensic technology was limited in the 80s and the case could not be proceeded with as there was not enough evidence.
On 27 March 1986, the then 30-year-old victim had been on an evening out with friends at a public house close to where she worked. She left the pub at around 23:30hrs and made her way home.
The victim went to bed and awoke a while later to find Chandler lying on top of her. Her hands had been bound together behind her back and Chandler then proceeded to rape the victim. He then fled the scene via an open window.
Forensic evidence gathered during the investigation had been retained in storage for three decades and with the advancement of forensic techniques further DNA analysis was undertaken as part of the review. Scientists were able to successfully obtain a DNA profile and this was a conclusive match to Chandler.
Chandler was produced from prison on 10 February 2014 and arrested in connection with the investigation into the rape of the 30-year-old victim. He was later charged on 16 October 2014 with this offence and he appeared at the Old Bailey later that same year where he pleaded guilty to the offence.
During the re-investigation authority was sought and subsequently obtained from the DPP to interview Chandler with the offences he had been acquitted of. One of those cases related to a then 19-year-old victim who had also been raped on 1 March 1986.
At around 01:00hrs that day, the victim was walking through West Harrow Park, where she noticed a man behind a tree.
Chandler who was wearing a balaclava and holding a knife jumped out in front of the victim and began hitting her and dragging her by her clothing. He forced the victim over a fence towards the railway line and instructed her to remove her clothing; he then proceeded to rape her, threatening her with the knife throughout the attack.
The victim was left with a cut to her hand and substantial bruising to her face where she had been punched by Chandler. Forensic evidence had also been retained in this case and scientists were able to review this and a DNA profile matching that of Chandler was found.
As a result of the DPP’s enquires the acquittal in relation to the 19-year-old victim was quashed by the Court of Appeal on the 6 December 2016 and Chandler’s case referred back to the Old Bailey so that he could be charged.
At today’s hearing Chandler was charged with the rape of 19-year-old victim and he pleaded guilty to the offence during the same hearing. Detective Sergeant Michael McInerney from the Met’s Complex Case team said:
“Had it not have been for the advancement in forensic technology, the evidence in relation to the tenth case that was not proceeded with in the 80s may never have been put to Chandler. The overwhelming evidence meant that he had no choice but confess to this crime.
“It was a surprise to us all when Chandler made further admissions to the case he was originally acquitted of in 1988 and with the supporting forensic evidence in this case verifying his guilt I am pleased he decided to plead guilty sparing his victim of yet another trial.
“Both women were subjected to violent and sustained attacks and their ordeal has been compounded by the fact that they have had to wait almost three decades to see the man responsible convicted.
“This case demonstrates that the Met will continue to investigate cases such as these no matter how much time has elapsed. I hope that today’s conviction will seek to provide some justice and closure for those victims involved.”
