A sex predator has been convicted for a horrific 2003 rape that saw an innocent man locked up for 17 years.
Paul Quinn’s DNA Seals His Fate
Paul Quinn, 52, from Exeter but formerly of Little Hulton, Salford, was found guilty of attacking a young mother as she walked home one early morning in July 2003. The woman was beaten, bitten, her cheekbone fractured, strangled unconscious, and raped. Quinn’s DNA was discovered on the victim’s vest, and jurors also heard he googled how long police keep DNA samples. Quinn, a convicted sex offender since the age of 12, also picked up charges for strangulation and grievous bodily harm.
Innocent Man Pays the Price
Andrew Malkinson, a security guard at the time, was wrongly identified in an identity parade and jailed in 2004 for the crime.
“If the police had acted as they should have, Paul Quinn could have been caught a long time ago,” Malkinson said after Quinn’s conviction. “Instead, they wanted a quick conviction and I was a handy patsy forced to spend over 17 years in prison for his horrific crime.”
After the verdict, Malkinson said he was “content that the right result has finally been achieved for the victim, myself and the public.”
Police Admit Failings, Investigation Continues
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) apologised to Malkinson and the victim, calling the miscarriage of justice “a failing of Greater Manchester Police, and the wider criminal justice system.” She added, “We are determined that this cannot happen again.” The Independent Office for Police Conduct is still investigating GMP’s handling of the case.
Decades-Old Crimes Come to Light
- Quinn was first cautioned at age 12 for two counts of indecent assault.
- In 1992, at 16, he was convicted for underage sex offences, acts now classified as rape, involving a 12-year-old girl.
- This led to his DNA being taken, which eventually linked him to the 2003 attack.
Quinn’s arrest came nearly 20 years after Malkinson’s wrongful imprisonment, thanks to advances in DNA testing that matched Quinn’s profile with saliva found on the victim’s vest – a match said to be one in a billion.
