Man admits 1991 'cold case' rape

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A man has pleaded guilty to raping a woman with severe disabilities in Sheffield 18 years ago.

Jeremiah Sheridan, 37, from Essex, was one of a group of travellers who went to the victim's house on 10 May 1991 selling carpets and furniture.

Police said he lifted the woman out of her wheelchair and violently raped her leaving her with serious injuries.

He was caught by the force's cold case review team after advances in DNA technology produced new evidence.

Police said at the time of the attack, a number of people were arrested but no charges were brought and the was case was filed as undetected.

Airport arrest

The case was reopened in 2006 and officers matched evidence from the original inquiry with records on the National DNA Database to identify Sheridan as the rapist.

A nationwide man hunt was started and an appeal was put on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

Last September, Sheridan was arrested at Heathrow Airport after leaving a flight which had come from Singapore.

He appeared in Sheffield Crown Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to rape and was remanded in custody where he will be sentenced on 4 September.

Det Sgt Ian Harding said: "It was frustrating that this case was not detected given the horrific nature of the attack.

"The case remained with me over the years and I reviewed it twice before this final successful attempt."