Shocking video footage captures a sexual predator moving through a city center, stalking his next victim before assaulting three women within an hour. Donatas Venclovas, 34, has been sentenced after DNA evidence linked him to a series of disturbing offenses against women aged 25 to 74 during an early-morning spree.
The conviction stemmed from DNA evidence connecting Venclovas to the crimes that occurred 14 years ago, obtained from a sample when one victim bit him. The sex offender targeted his victims in Leicester city center on January 8, 2011, following and attacking them.
His first victim, a 25-year-old woman, was assaulted on Rutland Street around 7.40am, where he grabbed her neck and touched her inappropriately. Shortly after, near St Nicholas Circle, he exposed himself and assaulted a 74-year-old woman before fleeing when interrupted. The third incident occurred at The Rally park at 8.50am, where a 57-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and assaulted.
Despite initial DNA samples not yielding a match, a breakthrough in February led to Venclovas being identified through a sample taken during an arrest in London. He was charged with attempted rape and three counts of sexual assault, pleading guilty and receiving a sentence of seven years and two months at Leicester Crown Court.
Detective Constable Shannon Hughes of Leicestershire Police expressed relief that the case was finally solved after years of uncertainty for the victims. Detective Inspector Lorna Granville commended the victims for their courage and the investigative team for their dedication in bringing Venclovas to justice, emphasizing the importance of pursuing justice regardless of time passed.
The case underscores the commitment to reinvestigate unsolved cases with new evidence, ensuring accountability for perpetrators.