THE "monster" who carried out the notorious 1995 Witton Park rape has been jailed for life - a sentence welcomed by his victim.

As the 11-year hunt ended with the jailing of Graham Darbyshire, who had a previous conviction for rape from 1984, his Blackburn victim said: "All I wanted was for him to get a life sentence and to be taken off the streets. "

Lorry driver Darbyshire, 52, of Elm Grove, Leyland, was sentenced to life, to serve a minimum of six years and 160 days, at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of rape and one of indecent assault.

He was finally tracked down after a cold-case investigation was launched by Greater Manchester and Lancashire police forces.

Advances in DNA meant that officers were able to partially match DNA from the attacks to a member of Darbyshire's family who had a conviction for shoplifting.

This told officers that the rapist was in the shoplifter's family and they were able to arrest Darbyshire, who a judge said had carried out an attack of "truly wicked proportions" on the Blackburn victim.

Officers who delved into his life found that stress was the trigger for Darbyshire's sex attacks.

Rachel Smith, prosecuting, told the court the victim said she was attacked by a "monster of a man" in a "lonely and desolate spot".

The solicitor added: "She said she was in fear of her life and was frightened of being alone and frightened of men.

"She said it had a detrimental affect on relationships and when she has bad days it all comes flooding back which she blames on what happened.

"She had made a decision that she would not engage in sexual activity until she had met the right person.

"That did not happen because the defendant raped her.

"She says she was happy and life was really good before he attacked her."

Detective Inspector Joe Kellett, of Lancashire Police, who has been working on the case since 1995, welcomed the sentence.

He said: "Obviously we are satisfied with a life sentence and pleased for the victims.

"It is a good result for everyone who has worked on this case over the years."

DI Jeff Arnold, who led the Greater Manchester investigation, said: "The methods applied in the case were a world first and combined with the dedication of all those involved they allowed us to identify Graham Darbyshire as the offender for both these offences.

"Darbyshire is a violent and dangerous individual who has offended over three decades.

"I feel confident that the streets are a safer place now that he has been imprisoned."

Judge Clement Goldstone told Darbyshire: "When you are in stressful situations lone adult women are at risk of sexual assault."

The rape in Witton Park in Blackburn happened in October 1995 as the victim was walking her dog. She was forced her into undergrowth subjected to a 60-minute ordeal.

Speaking about the Witton park attack, the judge said: "Quite simply she was terrified and in physical pain.

"This was an attack of truly wicked proportions that lasted an hour but must have seemed like a life time."

The indecent assault charge related to an attack on July 31, 1993, on a 22-year-old woman, who was also walking her dog in fields off the East Lancashire Road, near Boothstown, Greater Manchester.

He grabbed her around the neck and threatened to strangle her before indecently assaulting her.

Mark Stuart, defending, said: "There really is no mitigation that can be produced before the court in regards to these offences.

"They are serious offences of a serious sexual violence committed by a man who has got a history of such offending. "

He added that Darbyshire's wife said she was prepared to stand by her husband.