In 1987 John Walker assaulted a young woman near Wembley Tube station. Eighteen months later, in 1989 he grabbed a vulnerable teenager from a platform at Marlow railway station forcing her into a nearby hut where he attacked and raped her. Both attacks remained unsolved until October 2011 when a police cold case team found that a DNA sample from John Walker matched DNA evidence collected from victims at the time of the assaults. In January 2012 John Walker plead guilty to two indecent assaults and two counts of rape. Sentencing was adjourned until February 10th 2012.

Michael Roberts raped three women and attacked a fourth in a series of attacks committed in Bermondsey, London, during the 1980s and early 1990s. At the time of the attacks police had been unable to identify the attacker known as the "Bermondsey Beast" and also as "The Praying Rapist". Police interviewed and eliminated forty six suspects. DNA evidence was collected at the time of the attacks; however, technology was not advanced enough at the time to use it to identify the attacker. Michael Roberts was identified in 2005 after advances in DNA technologies produced a match to a sample belonging to Michael Roberts who, at the time, was in prison serving a life sentence for assault and robbery of an elderly man. In December 2011 Michael Roberts was found guilty and is due to be sentenced in January 2012. 

In July 2011 Abdul Khalazai raped a young woman on Folkestone seafront. The victim had rowed with her partner and had gone to the seafront to be alone. She had sat on a bench and Abdul Khalazai had approached and sat down beside her. Abdul Khalazai tried to initiate a conversation however the victim had ignored him. Abdul Khalazai then put his arm around the victim and placed his hand on her breast. The victim froze with fear as Abdul Khalazai's demeanour changed with him becoming angry and more aggressive. He took the victim to a secluded part of the beach where he forcibly removed her clothes and raped her. Abdul Khalazai was identified as the attacker after a match on the National DNA Database. In December 2011 Abdul Khalazai was found guilty of rape and given an indefinite sentence. 

In June 2010 Anthony Maxted broke into a property in Prices Avenue, Margate. He ransacked the downstairs stealing a torch and personal papers. He left behind a drinks can. He returned to the property again a few days later this time stealing stamps, but left blood smears on the window. Police were able to obtained a DNA sample from both the drinks can and the blood smear and this sample produced a match to Anthony Maxted. In January 2012 Anthony Maxted pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. 

On the 7th December 2011 Jason Hepplestall burgled a house on Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool. The resident had left the property at 9:40am and returned two hours later to discover considerable damage and a number of items missing. Police discovered blood at the crime scene and were able to obtain a DNA sample that was found to be a match to a sample belonging to Jason Hepplestall. In January 2012 Jason Hepplestall plead guilty to burglary and will be sentenced on the 12th January 2012. 

In February 2011 Marcos De Souza raped a 19 year old female after he had lured his victim into his car after she had left a house party in Camden, London. His victim was so drunk that Marcos De Souza believed that she would never remember the rape. But, after she returned home dishevelled the victim's partner encouraged her to call police. Marcos De Souza's DNA was found after tests, his DNA profile was on the National DNA Database after he was arrested for an alleged assault on an ex partner. Marcos De Souza was arrested in April 2011 after he went to a police station to report a car break in. In December 2011 Marcos De Souza was found guilty of rape and sentenced to nine years imprisonment.

James Citro murdered Nijole Siskeviciene, 44, in Lancelot Road, Wembley, in October 1998.Miss Siskeviciene was strangled and her body was left outside garages at the back of her home in Lancelot Road. James Citro, who changed his surname from Kennedy had been living nearby on the same road. He told police officers at the time that he did not know her. James Citro was arrested in connection with the murder after his DNA, which matched forensic evidence connected to the murder, was taken by police when they stopped him for drink-driving in July last year. James Citro was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Ahmed Ebrahimi forced entry into the Boots opticians in London Road, Croydon on the night of August 8.  Once inside, he ransacked the store, smashing display cabinets as he ran off with a large quantity of glasses and sun glasses worth £87,733.  Ebrahimi was identified as being involved in the looting when his DNA was found inside the store.  Ahmed Ebrahimi was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment after being found guilty of burglary. 

In June 2011 Ronald Toms was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the attempted rape of a pensioner in 1987. The crime remained unsolved for more than 24 years until Ronald Toms gave a routine DNA sample when he was arrested for a petty offence and this DNA sample matched samples taken from the scene of the attempted rape. Ronald Toms admitted two charges of attempted rape. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. 

Lyndon Carbado.On the 10th May 2011 Lyndon Carbado broke into business premises on Hagley Road, Edgbaston. He stole two laptops prior to escaping on a bicycle. On the 5th June 2011 Lyndon Carbado broke into another business premises in St Pauls square. He managed to gain entry to the premises whilst workmen were in the property carrying out renovations. He again stole two laptops and caused £1000 worth of damage to internal doors. Forensic investigators recovered evidence from the scene providing a DNA match to Lyndon Carbado and he was arrested shortly afterwards. In July 2011 Lyndon Carbado was found guilty and sentenced to 20 months imprisonment. 

Ryan Barrett. In April 2011 Ryan Barrett broke into William Parker School whilst intoxicated and stole food from a fridge. Forensic examination of the crime scene found a DNA sample on a fruit drink carton which was found to be a match to Ryan Barrett.  In June 2011 Ryan Barrett was found guilty and sentenced to a 12 month supervision order with an alcohol rehabilitation requirement. 

Rakesh Lal. In February and March 2011 Rakesh Lal broke into five houses near his home in Hayes. He would break rear windows and force entry. Stealing cash, jewellery and electronic equipment worth thousand of pounds. Following forensic examinations of the crime scenes a DNA profile was found matching Rakesh Lal. He subsequently pleaded guilty to the string of burglaries and an attempted theft and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in June 2011.

John Shillingford. John Shillingford burgled the home of a mother-of-four in Willenhall, stealing property including a games console and Easter eggs. He had entered the property through an unsecured rear window, taking the keys to the owner's car before stealing the vehicle. John Shillingford was later caught after committing a further burglary where it was found that he had left a DNA sample on a milk bottle. John Shillingford admitted both offences and a further offence of burglary. In June 2011 John Shillingford was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment. 

Jason Edwards. In June 2011 Jason Edwards pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary from an address in Windsor on the 8th February 2011.  During the raid Jason Edwards stole laptops, jewellery, two guitars, TVs, a games console and mobile phones worth over £10,000. He was arrested after a DNA match was identified with blood discovered at the crime scene. Jason Edwards was found guilty and sentenced to 3 ½ years imprisonment.

John Cooper. In May 2011 John Cooper was convicted of the 1985 murder of brother and sister Richard and Helen Thomas and Oxfordshire couple Peter and Gwenda Dixon in 1989 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also convicted of separate charges of rape, sexual assault and attempted robbery. The two sets of murders gave rise to much speculation, however the case remained unsolved until John Cooper was arrested in 2009. In December 1985 John Cooper killed Helen Thomas and her brother Richard during a break in at their remote mansion near Milford Haven. Police believe that he had been disturbed by Mr Thomas, turning his shotgun on the couple before pouring diesel around the three-storey farmhouse in an attempt to destroy the evidence. Four years later Peter and Gwenda Dixon encountered John Cooper as they walked along the Pembrokeshire Costal Path at Little Haven. John Cooper took the couple to an improvised hideaway where he shot them at point blank range. The break through came when Dyfed-Powys Police launched a review in 2006 of material gathered during a 1998 investigation that had led to John Cooper being jailed for 16 years for a string of burglaries. Tests uncovered new forensic evidence, a blood speck on a shotgun belonging to John Cooper and DNA on a pair of shorts - linking him to the murder of Peter and Gwenda Dixon.

In 1988 James Robertson attacked and raped a young woman in Canterbury, Kent. James Robertson had intervened as the victim argued with some people in the city centre, he then offered her a lift home. The victim quickly realised that James Robertson meant to attack her after he ignored her directions and drove her to a secluded wooded area near the city where he raped her before dumping her near her home. At the time of the rape James Robertson was on licence from prison after serving 11 years for kicking a man to death in Scotland. After the attack James Robertson moved to Preston where in 2001 he attacked a man he knew in a city centre restaurant with an axe. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment in September 2002 and released four years later. As a result of the axe attack police had a James Robertson's DNA profile and in 2009 it was found to be a match to sample collected from the 1988 rape. In May 2011 James Robertson was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.    

On the 24th June 2010 David Brian Thompson attacked a 50 year old female from behind on the Trans-Pennine Trail in Elsecar, near Barnsley, he then sexually assaulted her. David Brian Thompson had no previous convictions for sexual offences, he was however convicted of causing death by reckless driving in 1985. David Brian Thompson's DNA sample was held on the National DNA Database after he was arrested in connection with a different offence but never convicted. His DNA sample was found to be a match to samples found on the victim's bra and mobile phone analysis also placed him in the area at the time of the attack. David Brain Thompson denied the charges, claiming that he was with family at the time of the attack. In May 2011 David Brian Thompson was found guilty and given a indeterminate sentence with a minimum of four years.

March 1985 a 19 year old woman had been watching a film at a friends house in Gosport. She walked home alone late at night and was abducted and raped by Michael Slevin in his car. After the attack the victim managed to escape to a nearby kebab shop where she called the police. The case remained unsolved for 15 years. In 2010 the case was reopened and police used modern DNA profiling analysis. A swab taken from the victim at the time of the attack was found to contain Michael Slevin's DNA.
In May 2011 Michael Slevin was found guilty of rape and remanded in custody prior to sentencing. 

In the early hours of March 13th 1994 Robert Hendra broke into the home of a 20 year old female. The victim was woken and went downstairs where she was confronted by Robert Hendra who was armed with a knife. He ordered her upstairs where he raped her twice on her bed, using a condom. At the time of the attack police were unable to detect a full genetic profile from samples found on the woman's bed sheet and pants. The case remained unsolved until June 2010 when police re-opened the case. Advances in DNA technology enable a full genetic profile to be obtained from the original samples, which had been preserved, these were found to be a match to a sample provided by Robert Hendra. In April 2011 Robert Hendra was found guilty of rape. He will be sentenced in on the 13th May 2011.

In the early hours of January 1st 2010 Barrington Leroy Sinclair was thrown out of a new years eve party by his girlfriend. At the same time a 20 year old female was making her way home alone after celebrating the new year. Barrington Leroy Sinclair dragged her down an alleyway before raping her. Police collected DNA evidence from the crime scene and this evidence aided police to track down Barrington Leroy Sinclair. He was arrested in February 2010, however he maintained that he had had sex with someone on the 1st January 2010 but it was consensual. In December 2010 Barrington Leroy Sinclair was found guilty of rape and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

On the 12th June 2009 at about 2:30am Gary Grubb attacked two young women as they walked through Laycock Gardens.  Gary Grubb pinned them both to the ground with his arms, indecently assaulted them and repeatedly ordered them to keep quiet. The two women both managed to wriggle free and escape. One of the women sought help from a passer-by on the street whilst the other banged on the front door of a nearby house. Gary Grubb was staying in Middlesbrough at the time of the attack, however he fled the country to South Africa where he worked for his wife's family. Police identified Gary Grubb as the attacker after a DNA sample at the crime scene matched a sample on the National DNA Database taken from Gary Grubb after he was arrested for drink driving in 2006. Gary Grubb was arrested by police as he tried to re enter the UK at Gatwick airport. In December 2010 Gary Grubb was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

On 30th January 2010 Neil Varley returned home after a shopping trip. Jevgenij Kizajev forced Mr Varley into his flat where he held him captive for a six day period, tied him to a chair with parcel tape, blindfolded and gagged him before demanding his band card and PIN code. CCTV footage later showed Jevgenij Kizajev using Mr Varley's bank card to make mobile phone top-ups and withdraw cash. Jevgenij Kizajev also forced Mr Varley to sign to cheques for £5,000 one of which was deposited in Jevgenij Kizajev's account and the other deposited in Jevgenij Kizajev's brother's account.  Jevgenij Kizajev was caught after a concerned neighbour raised the alarm when she say Jevgenij Kizajev leaving Mr Varley's flat. Police officers broke down the front door of Mr Varley's flat and found him lying seriously ill on his bed.  Jevgenij Kizajev had fled to London. He was caught after his DNA profile was found on cigarette stubs discovered in the property. In December 2010 Jevgenij Kizajev was found guilty of robbery and false imprisonment and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.

Mark Weston was cleared of murdering Vikki Thompson in 1996, he went on trial for a second time in 2010 following the discovery of new DNA evidence. Thames Valley Police reopened the investigation in 2005 after small amounts of Vikki Thompson's blood, which had been missed during the initial investigation, were discovered on a pair of Mark Weston's boots. Mark Weston had chased Vikki Thompson after she had caught him masturbating whilst watching her as she walked her dog along a country lane in Oxfordshire. Vikki Thompson had been hit repeatedly to the back of her head with a heavy blunt object. Vikki Thompson's husband first realised that something was wrong when their dog, Daisy, had returned home alone after the walk on the afternoon of 12th August 1995.  Three local residents reported hearing screams, lasting approximately 45 seconds, coming from where Vikki Thompson's body was later discovered. In 2010 Mark Weston was found guilty of the murder, he is to be sentenced in December 2010.

On the 13th March 2010 Ben Andrew disguised himself with a blue cloth mask with cut out mouth and eye holes. He was spotted hanging around outside his local store acting suspiciously. He then entered the store raising a metal bar and threatening the staff with violence unless his instructions were followed. He left the store with £240 of stolen cash. When police searched the local area after the robbery they discovered the home made balaclava and forensically examined samples of saliva that were present. A DNA sample was obtained matching a sample on the National DNA Database for Ben Andrew who was arrested shortly afterwards. Ben Andrew initially denied class 2 robbery and claimed that the t-shirt used to make the balaclava had been stolen from his washing line. He later changed his plea to guilty. In December 2010 Ben Andrew was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

In 2000 Wayne McDonald opened fire into a crowd outside the Atlantis nightclub in Bolton. Two innocent bystanders suffered serious injuries.  Wayne McDonald vanished shortly after the attack and spent seven years lying low. Wayne McDonald was arrested after he shot WPC Katie Johnson in the leg as he fled the scene of a raid in Lancashire in 2007. He was found guilty of robbery and firearms offences in 2008 and sentenced to  life imprisonment. Greater Manchester Police then re-opened the investigation into the Atlantis nightclub shooting.  Witnesses had seen a man matching Wayne McDonald's description rummaging in the boot of a BMW car before producing a hand gun and firing at random into the crowd.  The BMW had been fitted with a telephone and police were able to link to Wayne McDonald through the call history. A tissue was also found in the boot of the vehicle, which contained a DNA sample found to match Wayne McDonald, along with another handgun and 92 rounds of ammunition. In December 2010 Wayne McDonald was found guilty of attempted murder, he will be sentenced at a later date.

In December 2010 Peter Hull was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for raping a woman in 1994. The case remained unsolved until a cold case review was undertaken in 2008. DNA evidence found at the crime scene was added to the National DNA Database. A match was found after Peter Hull was arrested by police on an unrelated matter.

In July 1982 Tony Dyce stabbed Norma Richards and her daughter Samantha to death before drowning Norma Richards' second daughter in their flat in Dalston.  The case remained unsolved for 28 years until an investigation by journalist Peter Law triggered a cold case review. Police sent the original exhibits back to the lab for forensic investigation. A DNA sample was found which matched with Tony Dyce.  Tony Dyce was arrested at his home in Romford. Upon being faced with forensic evidence Tony Dyce denied entering the flat and the three murders but claimed that he had had sex with Norma Richards in the toilets of a club on the evening of the murders. Tony Dyce had previous convictions for sexual assault after attacking two women in their homes when he knew that their partners were away. He also had a previous conviction for stabbing his ex wife repeatedly, attacking her with a hammer, bicycle chain and dumbbells, he had also tried to drown her in a bath.  In December 2010 Tony Dyce was found guilty of the three murders and sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.

Around 10pm on the 20th July 2001 Sayan Uddin Jan attacked a 21 year old woman on a playing field at Nunsmoor Park, Fenham. He grabbed the victim from behind, pulled her to the ground and raped her. The case remained unsolved until members of the Northumbria Police Rape Investigation Team launched a further investigation in October 2009.  DNA samples had been collected at the time of the attack but no match was found on the National DNA Database. In May 2010 Sayan Uddin Jan was arrested by Derbyshire Police on an unrelated matter and a routine DNA sample was taken. This sample was found to be a match to the samples found at the scene of the 2001 rape. In December 2010 Sayan Uddin Jan was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

In August 2010 Laurence (Larry) Shaw entered the post office in Queen's Street, Lostwithiel wearing a balaclava and brandishing a sawn-off shotgun. He demanded money from employees.  During the raid employees managed to sound the alarm and Laurence Shaw fled empty handed. Before Laurence Shaw targeted the post office he had already served 12 years imprisonment for robbing post offices with firearms in the West Midlands and for planning a bank robbery in the same area. During the failed raid on the post office Laurence Shaw left a holdall behind and police discovered a pair of rubber gloves that Laurence Shaw had worn during the raid. A DNA sample obtained from the items was found to match Laurence Shaw and he was arrested soon afterwards.  In December 2010 Laurence Shaw pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possessing a firearm with intent to commit an offence, he was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment.

In December 2010 Craig Cudmore was found guilty of robbery after attacking an 87 year old woman, leaving her battered and bloodied on the ground. The elderly woman lost her balance when Craig Cudmore ran up behind her and snatched her shopping bag that contained her handbag and purse. She fell forward suffering injuries to her face as well as broken glasses and broken hearing aid. The elderly lady's bag was discovered dumped in a nearby garden and police were able to get a DNA sample from the handle that matched a profile on the National DNA Database belonging to Craig Cudmore, who had previous convictions for shoplifting and handling stolen goods. Craig Cudmore will be sentenced in January 2011 after the judge ordered pre sentencing reports.

On the 26th August 2010, sometime after 9:26pm, Philippe Bampi knocked on the door of a blind woman pretending to be looking for a man called Andy.  He would have been aware that the female resident was blind on seeing the guide dog in her home. He returned later again the same evening again asking for Andy before forcing his way into the property. He grabbed the woman by her throat and forced her in to the hallway where he held a sharp metal object to her throat claiming that it was a knife and threatened her that he would use it if she did not follow his instructions. Philippe Bampi then sexually assaulted the woman before fleeing the property due to the woman's screams for help.  Police were able to obtain a DNA profile from the female victims pyjamas, this profile was found to be a match to Philippe Bampi. In December 2010 Philippe Bampi pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

On the 30th September 2009 Acer O'Toole and accomplice Norman Fisher robbed the Bargain Booze store on Kingsway North. Acer O'Toole entered the store brandishing a knife above his head, the pair then threatened female staff and demanded cash from the till. Both Acer O'Toole and Norman Fisher were wearing hoods. The pair were both about to leave the store with more than £400 in cash when two men walking past the store noticed the robbery was happening. The two men blocked the door to prevent the robbers escaping, before entering the shop where they confronted Acer O'Toole and Norman Fisher. CCTV footage from inside the store showed one of the witnesses punching Norman Fisher several times in the head and blood was found inside the store. Police were able to obtain a DNA sample from the blood found and this was a match to Norman Fisher who was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment. Acer O'Toole was caught sometime later in an identity parade and sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment.

Stanford Brown was arrested on February 15th 2008 after Operation Falcon officers raided a property in Basingstoke Road. While being handcuffed Stanford Brown attempted to reach under a nearby pillow where officers discovered 47 deals of crack cocaine wrapped inside a bandana or handkerchief. A DNA profile found on the bandana/handkerchief was found to be a match to Stanford Brown. Stanford Brown was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment for possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Steven Wright was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2008 for the murders of five women in Ipswich in December 2006. In 2003, he had been arrested on suspicion of stealing a small sum of money whilst working as a hotel barman and a DNA sample was taken. He was subsequently convicted of theft. The police were able to recover samples from one of the victims which produced a match with Steven Wright's profile.

The Guardian

BBC

Antoni Imiela was sentenced to life in March 2004 after being convicted of a series of rapes over a 12-month period. Two of his victims were just ten. A full DNA profile was obtained at the scene, but this profile didn't match any of the profiles on the NDNAD. Kent Police carried out an intelligence-led screen with 2,000 men from a local estate volunteering their DNA samples, but still no match was found. An E-fit was circulated and Antoni Imiela was identified as a suspect. He was subsequently arrested and his DNA was taken which matched the DNA samples taken from the victims. The specialist adviser who coordinated the forensic work on the case said the DNA evidence was a major breakthrough because it linked the first two attacks and subsequent rapes.

The Guardian

The Independent

Robert Napper was convicted in 2008 for the murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common in 1992. Robert Napper emerged as the main suspect when the case was reopened in 2002. The review team passed items of Rachel Nickell's clothing to forensic scientists for evaluation. Robert Napper denied any involvement in the Wimbledon murder until 2004 when extensive DNA tests established that the chance of the DNA profile belonging to someone other than him was 1 in 1.4 million.

The Times

The Telegraph

Ronald Castree. In October 1975, 11 year old Lesley Molseed was abducted on her way to the shops in Rochdale. Her body was discovered three days later on the moors. In a sexually motivated attack, Lesley was stabbed 12 times. A semen stain was recovered from Lesley's clothing. In 2005, Ronald Castree was arrested on suspicion of the rape of a female who had been found in a drink and drug induced state. Ronald Castree was brought into custody, his fingerprints and DNA were taken for the first time. Ronald Castree was released with no further action being taken. Ronald Castree's DNA was retained and loaded onto the NDNAD. His DNA matched the semen stain recovered from Lesley's clothing in 1976. He was found guilty of Lesley's murder at Bradford Crown Court in November 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

BBC

The Independent

Lee & Stephen Ainsby. In 1995 a 17 year old girl was walking home from a night out in Banbury when she was forced into a car by two men, taken to an isolated rural area and repeatedly raped. In 2003 Lee Ainsby was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and a DNA sample taken. In 2005 the evidence from the case was reanalysed and DNA profiles loaded on the NDNAD. One matched Lee Ainsby; the other did not match anyone but must have come from a close relative of Lee Ainsby. A DNA sample was taken from Lee's brother Stephen which matched the second sample from the crime. Lee and Stephen Ainsby were jailed for 10 years each for rape and 5 years each for kidnapping with the sentences to run concurrently.

Banbury Guardian

The Oxford Times

Lee Wilson was convicted in 2005 for a rape he committed in 1998. Lee Wilson dragged his young female victim into an alleyway and attacked her. DNA samples were taken from the scene of the crime but at the time provided no match. Lee Wilson was convicted of taking a motor vehicle in 2003 and his DNA was loaded on to NDNAD. Detectives from Avon & Somerset's Cold Case Review team matched Lee Wilson's DNA with samples collected during the 1998 investigation. Lee Wilson was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment.

BBC

Mark Dixie. 18 year old Sally Ann Bowman was murdered close to her home in South London in September 2005. A police investigation followed which included an intelligence-led screen, with some 1,700 men giving DNA samples voluntarily, but the investigation drew a blank. In June 2006 Mark Dixie, a pub chef, was arrested following a brawl in the pub where he worked. No further action was taken but his DNA was taken and subsequently loaded on to the NDNAD. It produced a match to the DNA evidence retrieved from the murder victim and within five hours he was under arrest. He was subsequently charged, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. DNA evidence had been crucial in tracking down and convicting Mark Dixie. 

The Sun

BBC

Anthony de Boise was jailed on 18 September 2006 for 13 years on six counts of indecent assault committed in Surrey against girls aged between 13 and 16 between 1989 and 1996. He was a qualified architect who worked as a planning officer for Wandsworth Council who disguised himself as a tramp to commit the assaults. He escaped detection at the time, but was arrested years later because his sister accused him of stealing from their late father's estate. Although the theft charge was later dropped his DNA was taken on arrest which matched DNA taken from the victims.

The Times

The Guardian

James Marshall. A man who raped a pregnant woman in 1992 was jailed for 18 years on 10 November 2006 after police matched his DNA to a saliva sample provided by the victim at the time of the attack. James Marshall raped the woman at knifepoint in May 1992 as she walked to a Bury fair. The judge said: "This was a crime that remained undetected, though promptly reported, until earlier this year, when thanks to the Cold Case Review Unit and advances in forensic science, you were tracked down by Greater Manchester Police by virtue of the presence of your DNA".

Daily Mail

Oldham Advertiser

John Humble (Yorkshire Ripper hoaxer) had a DNA sample taken in 2001 when he was arrested and cautioned for being drunk and disorderly. In 2005 a cold case review was conducted of  hoaxer 'Wearside Jack', who disrupted the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, and DNA retrieved from the seal on one of the envelopes used to send the hoax letters matched to John Humble's DNA. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for perverting the course of justice in March 2006.

BBC

The Guardian

Gary James Mitchell. In 2000, Gary James Mitchell, originally from Felling, Gateshead, was arrested on suspicion of a burglary in Hexham and a DNA sample was taken. The DNA matched a DNA sample taken from a rape in County Durham in 1995, and Mitchell was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. In 2003, Operation Phoenix reinvestigated unsolved rape cases and DNA evidence linked him to a 1979 rape in Felling, and a rape in Birtley in 1987. Gary James Mitchell was found guilty of both rapes and on 26 May 2004 he was given a life sentence.

BBC

The Sun

Paul Taylor. In 1987, Paul Taylor attacked and raped a 22 year old woman with the mental age of a three year old and who was cared for in a residential home. In 2004 Paul Taylor was arrested for shoplifting and had his DNA taken and his profile was added to the NDNAD. When West Yorkshire Police conducted a cold case review of the 1987 rape, they sent the original evidence for further tests and a DNA match was found. When Paul Taylor was arrested he initially tried to pretend that the woman had been a short term girlfriend but he pleaded guilty to rape when faced with evidence that she could not have given consent because of her mental age. Paul Taylor pleaded guilty in October 2008 and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January 2009. The Judge at Paul Taylor's trial branded his actions appalling and said that he might have got away with it had it not been for advances in science.

Halifax Courier

Stephen Johnstone. On 12 October 2009 Stephen Johnstone, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for crimes committed in 1989. He first stuck in Kent on 13 September when his victim was a 62-year-old widow. He broke into her home while she was asleep and proceeded to rape her before stealing jewellery. Then, on 23 October of the same year, Stephen Johnstone forced his way into the home of a 25-year-old in Hertfordshire and beat the woman unconscious before raping her. He also stole jewellery and cash from her. DNA samples taken from both scenes showed a link between both crimes. However, despite an appeal in the local press and e-fits provided by the victims, no suspect was identified. Then in 2008, the Metropolitan Police's Sapphire Cold Case Rape Investigation team reviewed the evidence and upgraded the DNA samples. DNA from the crime scenes matched to Stephen Johnstone on the National DNA Database, given by him when he was arrested for drink driving. 

Geoffrey Stoneham raped a 17 year old girl in 1980. The case remained unsolved until 2007 when scientific advances enabled samples collected at the crime scene to be reanalysed. A DNA profile was obtained, which matched to Geoffrey Stoneham. The chances of the DNA coming from someone else were "in the order of one in a billion". During the case the court heard that Geoffrey Stoneham had 65 previous offences, dating from 1959, including two of a sexual nature. In October 2009 Geoffrey Stoneham, 63, was jailed for eight years.

Paul Stewart Hutchinson. The body of Colette Aram was found near her home a day after she disappeared in October 1983. Colette's disappearance was the first case to be featured on the BBC programme 'Crimewatch'. On 21 December 2009 Paul Stewart Hutchinson pleaded guilty to her murder. The court heard that Paul Stewart Hutchinson had hidden in a shed to watch girls horse riding. He then stole a vehicle and drove to Keyworth. He had a bread knife with him and had approached a 17 year old girl and another school girl before abducting Colette. Advances in DNA technology enabled police to re examine the evidence. He was arrested after a DNA profile from evidence at the crime scene was linked to a family member on the National DNA Database. In January 2010 Paul Stewart Hutchinson was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years imprisonment. 

Robert Morley. On 11 July 1985 nine year old Imraan Vohra was reported missing when he failed to arrive at a local mosque after school. 38 hours later his body was found naked from the waist down in a nearby park; he had been sexually assaulted and strangled. A manhunt was launched, 100 investigators were drafted in and a huge number of interviews were conducted, without success. DNA evidence was recovered but at the time the technology wasn't available to identify a suspect. In 2001 the case was reopened as part of a cold case review. Advances in DNA technology ensured that DNA collected at the crime scene in 1985 could be re-examined. By 2006 a complete DNA profile of the attacker was compiled. In 2008 further advances in technology meant that the Database could be searched for offenders that had a familial link. This led police to a close relative of Robert Morley. Robert Morley had died from lung cancer in 1997; DNA obtained from a lung biopsy taken during Robert Morley's treatment confirmed that he was Imraan Vohra's attacker.  

Sean Hodgson (aka Robert Hodgson) was found guilty of the murder of Teresa de Simone in 1982. He had long pleaded his innocence after retracting his original statement. Sean Hodgson's case was urgently referred to court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission after his lawyers had insisted on DNA tests. These tests found that Sean Hodgson's DNA profile did not match the profile found at the crime scene. In 2009 senior judges ruled that Sean Hodgson's 1982 conviction was unsafe and should be quashed.

The Times

Colin Pitchfork. In the very first case involving DNA, the initial prime suspect in the murder of two schoolgirls confessed to murdering one of them.  Pioneering work on DNA showed that semen samples taken from the girls did not match that suspect but indicated that the cases were linked as the semen in both cases came from the same person, who in due course was identified as Colin Pitchfork who was jailed for life for the two murders.

BBC