Rapist struck again after police blunder

POLICE enabled a rapist to strike again after a DNA blunder, a court heard.

Ian Dunbar, 43, raped a prostitute in May last year before raping another woman six months later.

Forensic tests revealed a DNA match from the assault in May; however, the information was not passed on and officers carried on their investigation “on the basis there was no match”.

Dunbar was finally caught after the second victim – who had been picked up in his camper van and driven to an isolated car park – managed to photograph his registration plate when he drove off.

In April, Dunbar was jailed for 25 years after he was found guilty of nine counts of rape against two women.

One of his victims was so terrified during her ordeal, she told the jury, that she thought she would “leave in a body bag”.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found Northamptonshire Police failed to stop the second woman from being attacked.

The watchdog said it was of the opinion that the performance of three officers involved was “unsatisfactory”.