Jail for Martin Eke after raping girl 26 years ago
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Martin Eke, left, as he
is today and, right, a photofit from the time of the rape
by Paul Hooper
A Tonbridge driving instructor was
jailed for EIGHT years today - for raping a woman 26 years ago.
Martin Eke, 46, was found guilty of
the 1986 attack - thanks to the work of Kent's Cold Case
police.
Judge Adele Williams told the officers
they deserved commendations for tracking down the sexual
predator.
And she told Eke that he had been
convicted at Canterbury Crown Court on the most compelling evidence
that he had carried out a "cruel, degrading and pitiless rape."
His victim, Jacqui Spriddell, 21 from
Folkestone, died in 2000 from renal failure - and never saw her
attacker jailed.
The judge said justice had come "too
late" for his courageous victim but her family and friends have
"seen Eke receive justice".
Eke, (pictured
right. Picture Mike Gunnill) from Douglas Road, was
newly married and an ambitious shoe shop manager in Folkestone in
the mid 80s.
Then one night while he was at a loose
end, he came across Jacqui on her way home after watching a live
band in a local pub.
He grabbed her, raped her - and when
he realised that police were hunting him - fled the area.
And for more than 25 years, Eke
thought he has escaped justice - but in 2005 he was arrested for
assault on a partner.
Although he escaped with a police
caution, officers took his DNA and filed it away.
Five years later, when Cold Case
officers decided to 
review the
unsolved rape - they found a match... Eke's.
Today - 11 years after her death - her
rapist began his jail sentence.
Det Ch Insp Rob Vinson said after the
sentencing: "It's a big regret for everyone involved in working on
this case that Jacqui isn't here to see her attacker finally
brought to justice.
"For Jacqui, her family and friends
it's been really important that this man doesn't commit anymore
offences and gets the justice he deserves.
"The whole case really is shocking
when you look at her life and what she had to face as a result of
this attack, then many years later one of the really disgraceful
things is the defence this man tried to put up to try and drag her
name through the mud.
"To have her name put out is something
the family weren't confortable with but it couldn't be stopped as
she has now passed away.
"But the family now are just really
pleased that someone has been brought to justice for her and
hopefully they can start rebuilding their lives."
The scene of
the attack in Folkestone
Thursday, January 26 2012
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