Man who tried to rape woman in 1992 traced and jailed

Man who tried to rape woman in 1992 traced and jailed

In a case dating back over three decades, a man was sentenced to prison after being identified through a DNA breakthrough linked to a 1992 attack on an elderly woman. Aron Traynor, now 56 years old, was apprehended in 2023 following an incident where he was arrested for drink-driving and subsequently asked to provide a DNA sample. This sample matched forensic evidence collected at the time of the attack in Stockport, Greater Manchester, an assault that had remained unsolved due to the inability of police to find a suspect back then.

At the time of the crime, Traynor was 22 years old and was unknown to the victim, a 74-year-old woman who later passed away. During his trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, he was convicted of attempted rape and violent indecent assault and sentenced to 13 years in prison. The victim’s son spoke about the profound and enduring impact the attack had on his mother, describing the consequences as “devastating and lasting.”

Greater Manchester Police highlighted that advances in forensic science were pivotal in re-examining the evidence from 1992, which ultimately allowed for Traynor’s identification. Additional forensic tests were conducted in 2005, producing a nearly complete DNA profile that was added to the national database but without yielding a match at the time. It was only when Traynor’s DNA was collected during the drink-driving arrest that investigators were able to link him to the cold case, leading to his conviction in March following the trial.

Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hughes emphasized that the passage of time does not prevent justice from being served, stating, “Time is quite simply no barrier to justice.” She affirmed the significance of continual advancements in forensic technology and encouraged offenders to understand that any interaction with the criminal justice system could increase the likelihood of their crimes being uncovered. Hughes also thanked the victim’s family for their cooperation, expressing hope that the conviction brings them some peace, even though the victim herself did not live to see justice prevail

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More