How Farley Mount rapist cheated justice

The hunt was for the Farley Mount rapist who carried out five attacks on young couples at gunpoint while they sat in their cars at a Winchester beauty spot.

In the most serious incident the victim was bound, kidnapped and raped by the attacker while her partner was locked in the boot of his own car.

Daily Echo reporter Chris Semple looks at the history of the attacks and explains why the police have not been able to bring the man responsible to justice...

FARLEY Mount Country Park outside Winchester is one of the area's most popular beauty spots, attracting tens of thousands of people to its tranquil woods each year.

Yet in the past 14 years it has also been the setting for five terrifying late-night serial attacks that saw couples held-up at gunpoint before the women were either raped or sexually assaulted.

Despite police spending thousands of hours trying to catch the man who committed these acts, not enough evidence was ever found to bring a successful court case.

So how is it this man has got away with what he has done, how did he commit his crimes, and what do those who led the hunt for him think will happen next?

One of the most striking features of the Farley Mount attacks is the methodical way in which the offences were conducted.

For a start, the attacker always used the same routine when deciding on his victims.

All the attacks were on couples enjoying some late-night solitude in cars at isolated car parks.

The first thing victims say they recall is a car driving in to where they were parked, sweeping the area with its lights, stopping for a second, and then driving off.

In each case just minutes later a masked man suddenly appeared at their windows, pointed a Berreta-style handgun in their faces, and demanded all their money.

In several cases the man put the victims at ease by initially telling them he was only there to rob them, but within seconds he would then start tying them up, often using plastic garden ties, before carrying out his real aim - sexual assault.

The most horrific attack saw the boyfriend bound and shut in the boot of his car, while the girl was stripped from the waist down, wrapped in mummy-like fashion round the head with masking tape, carried to another car and driven to a house where she was raped.

The man then dumped the victim, still semi-naked, in a lay-by at Cheriton several hours later, leaving her to stagger to a nearby house for help.

Detectives say another key feature of his attacks was the way he systematically removed any evidence he had taken to the scene, such as bags he had used to cover his victim's heads.

Det Sgt John Gunner, one of the leading detectives on the case, said: "We believe the offender visited Farley Mount on a regular basis, checking it out for the right circumstances to attack.

"We think he would only carry out an attack if all the car parks were empty of cars other than the vehicle he was targeting, particularly the one adjoining where he would park.

"He always picked on young courting couples, perhaps because he felt they were less likely to fight back, and we feel he would spend some time observing the couple in the car before he struck, usually when they were in a compromising situation.

"He lulled them into a false sense of security, saying he was only going to rob them.

"But, once tied up, he has gone on to assault the women. We believe raping the women was always part of the scenario but the methodical execution of his plan is of primary importance.

"He also appears disciplined enough to walk away and forego parts of the plan if there is a possibility that he may be compromised forensically."

However despite the rapist's stealth, police have had some clues as to his identity, built up from victim's statements, witness reports, and psychological profiling.

He was described as a man in his late 30s, taller than average, of medium build with short dark hair and who spoke with no discernible accent.

Suspected personality traits were also revealed by psychologists who examined his behaviour and concluded that:

All the attacks are organised, with aspects such as the getaway vehicle parked in adjoining car parks showing he is skilful in his planning.

He always shows a high level of forensic awareness, suggesting a background in the police or armed forces.

He has average to superior intelligence, and his methods suggest he may have a history of putting people at ease, with perhaps previous employment in sales.

He could have a psychopathic personality disorder and sees himself as a bit of a ladies' man, while they probably see him as opinionated and empty.

Given his knowledge of the area, it was thought he probably lived within a five-mile radius of Farley Mount.

Psychologists also feel he will continue with the attacks indefinitely until he is caught.

Det Sgt Gunner rejects the idea that the offender is a former policeman, believing instead that he has probably read about the subject of police forensic investigations and has learned what he thinks are ways to avoid detection.

Despite his care not to leave incriminating evidence, four years after the last attack in 1998 new evidence did come to light, not because the rapist had made a mistake forensically, but because someone he targeted refused to let him get away.

In 2002, following an appeal in the Daily Echo for information about the attacker, a man came forward to say he thought he too had been targeted with his girlfriend at the beauty spot.

This time the attacker wasn't successful and was scared away. However, the intended victims, on hearing the man drive off, followed him and saw him at the wheel of an S-registration Series Three Land Rover with a canvas roof.

Their evidence led to the arrest of a man in his early 40s later that year. This week he was told no prosecution would be brought against him.

Asked why the case hadn't gone to court, Det Sgt Gunner said: "The main problem was simply the lack of hard evidence.

"We just had no forensic evidence whatsoever, and were relying on circumstantial evidence, which is not good enough for the courts."

He said that the attacker had always been extremely careful not to leave any physical evidence behind, always wearing gloves and a mask and on the occasion of the rape ensuring he wore a condom.

Det Sgt Gunner added: "The other problem is that nobody ever saw his face because he always wore a mask or balaclava, so we haven't any witnesses who can say, 'This is the person I saw'."

Asked what he hoped might happen now, Det Sgt Gunner said that in order to conclude the investigation they needed to hear from other people who may have been victims or targets.

He said: "What we really need is for anyone who has actually been attacked or nearly attacked at Farley Mount to come forward.

"We don't want people phoning in with speculation about someone they think might be capable of committing these crimes, but if they have seen anything themselves they should get in touch.

"Obviously, some people may not want to come forward, perhaps because they feel they shouldn't have been up at the park at the time - but everything we get will be treated in strictest confidence."

Asked whether he thought there was a risk the man may now attack again, Det Sgt Gunner added: "I think there is a huge risk that he may offend again.

"It may be that the media coverage and police activity has scared him off, and I hope that is the case, or it may be that nine-years after his last proper attack he's now too old or put-off to attack again.

"However, there remains the very real possibility that he will strike again, and though for the moment the case is lying on file, should any fresh evidence come to light we will of course reopen the investigation immediately."

TERROR TIMELINE:

ATTACK 1. January 25 1991: Two 23-year-old lovers are in their car at Beech Clump car park when a masked man with a handgun pulls open the passenger door and demands cash. He then ties them up using a seatbelt and plastic garden ties and puts plastic bags over their heads before launching a serious sexual assault on the woman. When done, the victims say he removed the bags before calmly walking away into the night.

ATTACK 2. November 3 1992: A couple are in Spindle Trees car park when a torch suddenly shines through the window, the door is pulled open and a masked man with gun demands money. The male victim is tied up and forced into his car boot. His girlfriend is stripped from waist down and has masking tape wrapped round her head in a "mummy" fashion. She is carried to the attacker's car and driven her to a house and raped. Hours later she is dumped in a layby.

ATTACK 3. November 29 1994: A couple are in Forest View car park when man knocks on the window waving gun and demands money. They give it to him through crack in window, but when he tells them to open their door. The boyfriend starts to get out and the attacker flees.

ATTACK 4. April 22 1996: Two teenagers, a girl aged 16 and a boy aged 18, are in Hawthorns car park when man in balaclava flings open the car door, puts gun in their faces and demands cash. The pair are tied up and the girl's handbag is put over the man's head. The girl is again bound round the head with masking tape, marched to a nearby car, and driven out past Sparsholt where the man then sexually assaults her before dumping her by the road.

ATTACK 5. May 28 1998: A couple in are Spindle Trees car park when a man tries the door handle of their car. Before he can demand any cash the couple start up the car and drive off, leaving the attacker standing alone.