Donatas Venclovas, the Ilford Rapist, who eluded justice for 14 years, has been incarcerated due to a significant forensic advancement and the tenacity of a specialised police unit.
Donatas Venclovas received a sentence of seven years in prison at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday, October 3) after confessing to many sexual offences.
In 2011, three women were assaulted in Leicester by the same individual, all occurring within approximately one hour.
The conclusive attack yielded vital DNA evidence, but the 34-year-old resident, Donatas Venclovas, of Craven Gardens, Ilford, remained unidentified until a breakthrough in February of this year connected him to the unresolved offences.
On Saturday, January 8, 2011, law enforcement received an allegation of an attempted rape in The Rally park on Tudor Road, involving a 57-year-old woman at the time.
At approximately 8:50 AM, the victim was forcibly knocked to the ground after observing the suspect with his hands within his trousers.
He proceeded to disrobe her, but she resisted, biting his hand and calling for assistance, which aroused a nearby homeowner and compelled him to escape.
Following the attack, detectives initiated an extensive investigation.
The DNA obtained from the victim’s face and oral cavity yielded a crucial forensic profile of the perpetrator; nevertheless, it did not correspond to any entries in the national police database at that time.
In the course of their investigation, the police released a witness appeal along with an e-fit of the alleged culprit. Subsequently, two additional ladies reported being indecently assaulted by a man with a similar description on the same morning.
CCTV investigations verified that it was the same individual, and both incidents transpired in the city centre soon before the assault in the park.
The initial incident occurred shortly before 7:40 AM on Rutland Street. The 25-year-old woman was seized from behind. One hand seized her neck while the other grasped between her knees.
Shortly thereafter, in proximity to St Nicholas Circle, Donatas Venclovas indecently exposed himself and sexually assaulted another woman, who was 74 years old, by inserting his hand beneath her skirt.
He absconded after being interrupted by an individual in proximity and proceeded to the park, where the third incidence occurred.
Detectives conducted thorough investigations throughout the period of the attacks, which included analysing substantial CCTV footage, issuing public pleas, and performing door-to-door enquiries.
Key witnesses provided statements; nonetheless, despite a comprehensive investigation, the suspect remained unidentified.
In 2012, renewed optimism for the inquiry emerged when the identical DNA profile was discovered on the fence of a residence that had been burgled in London.
The suspect’s identity remained undisclosed.
2025: case reopened
The breakthrough came in February 2025 when Donatas Venclovas was arrested in London on suspicion of assault.
A DNA sample taken in custody matched the profile from the 2011 attacks – giving detectives the evidence needed to reopen the case.
Leicestershire Police’s specialist rape and serious sexual assault investigation team immediately launched a renewed investigation.
Detectives meticulously reviewed all the historical evidence in an effort to build a compelling case against the defendant.
Due to the length of time passed, tracking down all three victims initially proved difficult.
The victim who was attacked at The Rally was the first to be found. The victim in the Rutland Street incident was also identified. Unfortunately, the victim, who was 74 in 2011, had since passed away, but detectives were able to trace her family to inform them of the development in the case.
Despite the difficulties, the officer in the case – Detective Constable Shannon Hughes – remained committed to securing justice for the women.
She said: “For more than a decade, the women in the case have had to live with knowing the man who attacked them had not been identified and could still be out there.
“The actions of one of the victims on that morning in 2011 have ultimately led to this case finally being solved, but the case still required a full review of old material, as well as reconnecting with the victims and carrying out new enquiries to ensure the case was fit for trial in 2025.
“Luckily, the victims have been spared any added trauma of having to relive what happened to them in court, and hopefully today will put an end to what has been many years of living with unresolved pain.”
Donatas Venclovas was charged with one count of attempted rape and three counts of sexual assault. Faced with the overwhelming evidence, he pleaded guilty to all four offences at the start of the trial in August.
Donatas Venclovas was sentenced to a total of ONLY seven years and two months.
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