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Stephen Hough jailed for 12 years for Janet Commins killing | Stephen Hough jailed for 12 years for Janet Commins killing |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man who raped and killed a 15-year-old schoolgirl in 1976 has been jailed for 15 years. | |
Janet Commins' body was found near a school field in Flint, north Wales, by three children playing hide and seek. | Janet Commins' body was found near a school field in Flint, north Wales, by three children playing hide and seek. |
Stephen Hough, 58, from Flint, was convicted of manslaughter, rape and sexual assault at Mold Crown Court last week. He was cleared of murder. | Stephen Hough, 58, from Flint, was convicted of manslaughter, rape and sexual assault at Mold Crown Court last week. He was cleared of murder. |
Hough was sentenced to 12 years and a further three after admitting sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2016. | |
The two sentences will run consecutively. | |
After his arrest following the 2016 incident, Hough's DNA matched samples found on Janet's body, prompting his arrest and subsequent trial on charges relating to her death. | |
Talking about the offences dating back to 1976, Mr Justice Lewis said Hough had shown "no remorse whatsoever for what you did to that young girl". | |
"You knew what you were doing... for your own sexual pleasure". | "You knew what you were doing... for your own sexual pleasure". |
Hough was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter, eight years for rape and eight years for sexual assault - the sentences will run concurrently. | Hough was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter, eight years for rape and eight years for sexual assault - the sentences will run concurrently. |
The judge said he took into account the fact Hough was 16 when he committed the crimes. | The judge said he took into account the fact Hough was 16 when he committed the crimes. |
Janet went missing after leaving her home to go swimming on 7 January 1976. | Janet went missing after leaving her home to go swimming on 7 January 1976. |
Four days later, her body was found under a thicket near a school playing field. She had been suffocated during a sexual assault. | Four days later, her body was found under a thicket near a school playing field. She had been suffocated during a sexual assault. |
Noel Jones, who was 18 at the time, admitted killing her and served half of a 12-year prison sentence. | Noel Jones, who was 18 at the time, admitted killing her and served half of a 12-year prison sentence. |
Although he has never challenged his conviction, he told Hough's trial he was made a scapegoat by police because he was a barely literate Gypsy. | Although he has never challenged his conviction, he told Hough's trial he was made a scapegoat by police because he was a barely literate Gypsy. |
Hough was questioned after Janet's death but was ruled out by police after he said he was stealing petrol the night she was killed - an offence for which he was fined. | Hough was questioned after Janet's death but was ruled out by police after he said he was stealing petrol the night she was killed - an offence for which he was fined. |
In 2016, his DNA was taken by police in an unrelated matter and a match was found with samples taken from Janet's body at the time. | In 2016, his DNA was taken by police in an unrelated matter and a match was found with samples taken from Janet's body at the time. |
The jury heard it was a billion times more likely to belong to Hough than anyone else. | The jury heard it was a billion times more likely to belong to Hough than anyone else. |
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Iestyn Davies said: "Very quickly after his DNA was taken [in 2016] and entered on the database, it hit against a crime stain from that 1976 investigation and that prompted us to fully reopen the case." | Senior investigating officer Det Supt Iestyn Davies said: "Very quickly after his DNA was taken [in 2016] and entered on the database, it hit against a crime stain from that 1976 investigation and that prompted us to fully reopen the case." |
Trisha Foley, scientific support officer with North Wales Police, praised the "foresight" of the scientists dealing with the case at the time. | Trisha Foley, scientific support officer with North Wales Police, praised the "foresight" of the scientists dealing with the case at the time. |
"The fact that the material was placed onto slides and then a slip was added over actually preserved that evidence. | "The fact that the material was placed onto slides and then a slip was added over actually preserved that evidence. |
"To obtain not only a profile but a full DNA profile with a statistical probability of one to a billion that it matched Stephen Hough, in that timescale - that's a significant result." | "To obtain not only a profile but a full DNA profile with a statistical probability of one to a billion that it matched Stephen Hough, in that timescale - that's a significant result." |
The court heard Hough had been court-martialled in 1988 for grievous bodily harm with intent while serving as a soldier in Germany. | The court heard Hough had been court-martialled in 1988 for grievous bodily harm with intent while serving as a soldier in Germany. |
He attacked a hotel receptionist and was in the process of "strangling" her when he was disturbed by others. | He attacked a hotel receptionist and was in the process of "strangling" her when he was disturbed by others. |
He was jailed for five years, reduced through the ranks and discharged. | He was jailed for five years, reduced through the ranks and discharged. |
Det Supt Davies added: "Janet was subjected to an horrific, sustained and brutal sexually-motivated assault and the impact upon her family, friends an the entire community was enormous. | Det Supt Davies added: "Janet was subjected to an horrific, sustained and brutal sexually-motivated assault and the impact upon her family, friends an the entire community was enormous. |
"Hough is now in prison, where he rightly belongs." | "Hough is now in prison, where he rightly belongs." |
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Janet's uncle Derek Ireston described his niece as a "loving child, slightly timid and shy, but fun to be with". | In a victim impact statement read out in court, Janet's uncle Derek Ireston described his niece as a "loving child, slightly timid and shy, but fun to be with". |
He said Hough "stole Janet's future" and her mother Eileen has been "hurting and suffering for 41 years". | He said Hough "stole Janet's future" and her mother Eileen has been "hurting and suffering for 41 years". |
His statement added: "The investigation in 1976 seemed to me to be shoddy... anything as a family that we put forward was dismissed. | His statement added: "The investigation in 1976 seemed to me to be shoddy... anything as a family that we put forward was dismissed. |
"We also, as a family, feel for Noel Jones who has also suffered so much since 1976." | "We also, as a family, feel for Noel Jones who has also suffered so much since 1976." |
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how North Wales Police handled the original investigation. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how North Wales Police handled the original investigation. |
Iwan Jenkins, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The huge advancements in forensic testing since the 1970s were the key factor in being able to bring this case to court. | Iwan Jenkins, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The huge advancements in forensic testing since the 1970s were the key factor in being able to bring this case to court. |
"Our thoughts have been with Janet's family throughout the investigation and trial. They now have the assurance of knowing that her killer has finally been brought to justice." | "Our thoughts have been with Janet's family throughout the investigation and trial. They now have the assurance of knowing that her killer has finally been brought to justice." |