Historic assault, rape and kidnap.

A man convicted of the murder of a Sawtry schoolgirl has been jailed for horrific crimes committed in the 1980s.

Martin Cooper, 61, admitted charges of rape, false imprisonment, and assault. He was sentenced to seven years in prison at Peterborough Crown Court.

The case involved an incident in March 1987, but thanks to meticulous work by Cambridgeshire police, detectives were able to bring a prosecution over three decades later.

Cooper convinced his victim to get into his car before locking the doors and driving her to a wooded area near Leighton Bromswold, near Huntingdon.

Cooper, who was known as Colin Hill at the time, ignored pleas from the victim to return to the arranged location. Instead, he began to kiss and grope her without consent.

After making several threats of violence, Cooper raped her. Afterwards, he grabbed the victim and threatened to keep her for several days, saying he didn't know what he would do with her.

In an attempt to escape, the victim told Cooper she needed to use the toilet. He stopped the car at a nearby pub, where she ran inside and hid under the landlord's car until Cooper left. The landlord found her and arranged for her family to collect her.

Several weeks after the incident, Cooper raped and murdered Leanne Scott, a schoolgirl from Sawtry, and was initially jailed for 18 years.

After the murder, the victim spoke to officers and reported the rape. Cooper, of Russell Street, Luton, was released in 2018 but jailed again shortly after due to concerns about his behavior and licence breaches.

DC Elaine Penniket said: "I would like to applaud the phenomenal bravery shown by the survivor in this case, who has had to live with the devastating impact of Cooper's horrific actions. This case highlights the significance of reporting serious sexual offences to police. Tackling rape is a force priority, and if you or someone you loved has suffered at the hands of a rapist, I would urge you to come forward to report it to police."

Anyone concerned about someone who may have been convicted of a sex offence and could pose a risk can apply for disclosure information through Clare's Law and Sarah's Law.