A FORMER binman from Dartford has been jailed for raping a woman 13 years ago.

Jason Clark, formerly known as Downer, of Mount Pleasant Road, Dartford, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to rape at Maidstone Crown Court today (November 4).

Clark, 37, was charged in January this year after improved DNA technology identified him as the rapist.

The court heard that a 27-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in an alleyway leading from the car park outside Otford railway station in Kent shortly after 10pm on August 2, 1995.

A complex forensic investigation followed and DNA from the woman's clothing was loaded on to the national database.

In 2000 Clark was arrested for a drugs offence and a DNA sample taken at the time matched the outstanding profile for the rape taken five years earlier.

However, Clark denied rape, claiming a medical condition and alcohol abuse at the time meant he could not recall events.

And when he took part in an identity parade witnesses, including the victim, were unable to identify him, the court heard.

As the DNA evidence was not conclusive the case against Clark was discontinued, until further tests in 2005 and 2007 using improved technology confirmed Clark was the attacker.

The court also heard Clark had a history of offending, including robbery, assault, drugs possession, criminal damage and abusive behaviour.

He had spent a period of his life in psychiatric hospitals.

Judge Michael Lawson said: “The consequences of your act that evening was to destroy the life of a decent young woman.

“You abolished her peace of mind, probably for ever.”