Police issue statement after guilty verdict (From Salisbury Journal)

Police issue statement after guilty verdict

3:39pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in News By Journal Reporter

THE senior investigating officer in the cold case review of the gunpoint sexual assault of a teenage girl in 2001 has made a statement after the culprit was today jailed for 12 years.

Keith William John Henderson, 57, of formerly of Cooks Close, Fugglestone Red, was found guilty of indecent assault, two counts of false imprisonment, actual bodily harm and possession of a firearm.

The 16-year-old victim was assaulted on the Town Path, between Salisbury and Harnham, in front of her boyfriend.

He was sentenced to a total of 12 years and six months imprisonment after a jury took just over two hours to find him guilty of the assault.

Chief Inspector Sean Memory of Wiltshire Police said: “This offence has had a massive impact on both victims who should have been enjoying their teenage years. It also affected the whole community as this type of offence was, and fortunately remains, extremely rare.

“You will have heard today the trauma both victims have suffered during the last 11 years whilst Henderson went about his life unhindered.

“Advances in forensic science have brought Henderson to justice as, despite a large man hunt at the time of the offence, he had never featured in the investigation until now.

“We have worked tirelessly to identify the person responsible for these attacks while continuing to offer support to both victims.

I hope today’s verdict and sentence offers them both some closure for what must have been, and continues to be, a truly traumatic experience.”