AN Ipswich rapist was finally convicted today 20 years after subjecting a 17-year-old girl to a horrific attack,

AN Ipswich rapist was finally convicted today - 20 years after subjecting a 17-year-old girl to a horrific attack,

Phil Collins, of Dickens Road, buried his head in his hands when the jury brought in a unanimous guilty verdict at Ipswich Crown Court shortly before 1pm.

The 50-year-old attacked the teenager in Gippeswyk Park in Ipswich on January 14, 1990.

He was arrested last year after advances in DNA technology identified Collins as the man responsible.

Collins had denied a charge of rape along with two charges each of indecent assault and buggery.

This afternoon he was sentenced to a total of 46 years in jail but will only serve ten as all the sentences were concurrent.

Collins was handed two ten-year sentences for the buggery charges, a further ten years for rape and eight years each for indecent assault.

He will be eligible for parole in five years. Judge David Goodin described the attack as a “wicked crime.”