Rotherham cold-case cops reach milestone

The milestone for South Yorkshire Police’s cold case review team has been reached thanks to partnership working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Forensic Science Service, whose experts at Wetherby gave the dedicated police team fresh leads through advancements in DNA technology.

Originally based at Maltby Police Station, the five-strong team has a combined total of well over 100 years’ detective experience and its work has been broadcast nationally in a BBC documentary programme.

Headed by Det Supt Richard Fewkes until recently, the team has focused mainly on historic sexual offences and gained its first conviction three years ago.

In total, the team has helped convict offenders for 12 rapes, one serious sexual assault, three burglaries, one murder, one robbery and one charge of perverting the course of justice, and put 11 men behind bars for a total of 105 years.

The team’s latest success came at Sheffield Crown Court last Friday when a Barnsley man pleaded guilty to indecent assault and burglary with intent to steal 1996 and was given two six-year concurrent jail terms.

Det Supt Fewkes said: “This is a highly successful team whose work has seen a number of dangerous offenders convicted of the most serious of crimes.

“The 100-year sentencing milestone is a landmark for the team, but work continues to solve other as yet undetected offences.

“Offenders now should be looking over their shoulders and fearing that it is they who will be arrested next.”

Det Sgt Ian Harding, who runs the team on a day-to-day basis, added: “Most of my team has returned from retirement with overwhelming enthusiasm to carry out this work.

“Our results are testament to that hard work and dedication.”

The team, now based at the force’s new Callflex Building at Wath and headed by

Det Supt Colin Fisher, meets monthly with the FSS to discuss which cold cases can be progressed.

Two of the men convicted after investigations by the team were:

Former fairground worker Simon Murcott (45), pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to raping a 31-year-old woman in Rotherham in November 1995.

The victim had just used a public telephone box on Doncaster Road when she was confronted by Murcott, who led her to a bus shelter on Mowbray Street where she was attacked. Sentencing was adjourned for reports.

Christopher Sykes (46), from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison on October 1 for the rape of a 16-year-old girl, who was walking home along Canklow Road, Rotherham, in October 1981.

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