Sex attacker was tracked by ‘chance’ DNA evidence

Feb 26 2008 by Clare Hickie, Liverpool Daily Post

A SEX attacker was tracked down after his DNA was taken following an unrelated incident.

The police investigation had ground to a halt following the 18-year-old woman victim’s complaint.

But 15 months later Irish Guardsman, Darren Leatham, was arrested by British Transport Police and his DNA taken.

Nothing came of that incident but his DNA was found to match that found on the teenage girl and he was re-arrested.

Leatham, 22, was cleared of rape by a Liverpool Crown Court jury but convicted of attempted rape.

Jailing him for five years yesterday Judge William George ordered Leatham, of Lowton Road, Golborne, near Warrington, whose wife is expecting their first child in May, to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The court head the 18-year-old student met Leatham, a stranger, in Barbarella’s nightclub in Leigh on November 5, 2005.

His barrister Paul Hodgkinson said Leatham, who has married, maintains that some consensual sexual activity had taken place.