Crime Desk

A man has been convicted of rape, indecent assault and aggravated burglary committed some 26 years ago following a Cold Case investigation.

Robert Clarke, 43 (18/10/67) was convicted of two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault, one of aggravated burglary, one of incitement to commit indecent assault and one of false imprisonment following the incident on August 20, 2024 at a flat in West Norwood, SE19.

He was sentenced to serve a total of 16 years.

On two counts of rape, he was given 16 years each;
for the burglary and false imprisonment 10 years each;
for the counts of indecent assault, 4 years and 2 years,
and for incitement, 4 years- all sentences to run concurrently.

Despite no suspects being identified at the time of the original investigation, Police cold case detectives and officers from the Metropolitan police fingerprint branch conducted a review of the unsolved case. During this review, palm prints originally located at the scene were reviewed using new forensic techniques which enabled Clarke to be identified.

Clarke - who has convictions from 1982 - is currently serving a 30 month custodial sentence after being convicted in December 2009 of two burglaries in July 2007.

During the 1984 offence, his two victims were put through a harrowing ordeal after balaclava clad Clarke entered the property with an iron bar some time after 22:30hrs. He threatened them and armed himself with a knife, repeatedly sexually assaulting them.

The female victim was raped twice and the male indecently assaulted before the flat they shared as tenants was ransacked by Clarke. He also forced the male victim to sexually assault the female victim.

The defendant then tied both of them up with cables, flexes and chain, and fled through the window. He stole items of jewellery, a watch and money.

Clarke denied all charges against, him claiming in his defence that his finger marks would have been found at the premises through his presence at a party held there at some point.

Detective Constable Claire Watts, from the Met's Cold Case Sapphire team said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for both victims and after all of this time, Clarke thought he got away with it. Despite the time that has elapsed since the offence was committed, it is likely that Clarke will face a lengthy sentence after he was brought to justice today.

"Today's outcome shows victims of sexual assault that the Metropolitan Police Service will pursue their attackers and bring them to prosecution, no matter how much time has passed."