Man convicted of raping university student in 1977

A man has been convicted of raping a student in Leeds almost 50 years ago, on her first night in the city after moving there to study at university.

David Sharp smashed a window to break into the young woman's room in the early hours of 2 October 1977 before assaulting her while wearing a ski mask, West Yorkshire Police said.

Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, Sharp, 66, of Copland Meadows in Totnes, Devon, was found guilty on Friday of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Sharp had been remanded in custody and was due to be sentenced on 23 April, according to police.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said that although the offence was reported at the time, officers were unable to identify a suspect.

However, the investigation was reopened as part of a cold case review in 2023 and Sharp's DNA was found to match a profile of the attacker.

Police were then able to verify that Sharp lived in Leeds at the time of the attack, when he was 17 years old.

Det Sgt Richard Ord, of the major investigation review team, said: "At the heart of this investigation is a woman who has been scarred by the events of 48 years ago for her whole adult life.

"She has told officers she remembers the crime committed against her on that day in 1977 like it was yesterday.

"Sharp has consistently denied this offence and taken no responsibility for his actions.

"The evidence we were able to gather was compelling and has resulted in him being convicted of this offence."

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