Sex attacker Donatas Venclovas, 34, struck early in the morning after following his terrified victims through a busy city centre before grabbing them in a series of sick assaults
Moment sex fiend stalks victims before attacking three women in one hour
Horrifying footage shows sex predator making his way through a city centre as he stalks his next victim before he attacked three women in the space of one hour. Donatas Venclovas, 34, has been jailed following a DNA breakthrough for a series of sickening crimes against women aged between 25 and 74 in an early-morning spree.
The conviction came after DNA evidence linked Venclovas to the crimes, which took place 14 years ago, thanks to a sample taken after one of his victims bit him. The sex attacker struck early in the morning of January 8, 2011 after following his victims through Leicester city centre.
His first target was a 25-year-old woman who was approached from behind at around 7.40am on Rutland Street. One hand grabbed her around the neck and the other hand went between her legs.
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Just minutes later, near to St Nicholas Circle, he exposed himself and sexually assaulted another woman – then aged 74 – by putting his hand up her skirt. He fled after being disturbed by someone nearby and made his way to The Rally park where his third offence took place at 8.50am.
A 57-year-old woman was pushed to the ground after she witnessed the suspect with his hands down his trousers. He attempted to remove her clothing to rape her, but she fought back, biting his hand and screaming for help.
Nearby residents heard the screams and came running, causing Venclovas to flee. Police were able to take DNA samples from the third victim’s face and inside of her mouth, but they did not match anyone on the national police database at the time.
It was not until a breakthrough in February this year that Venclovas of Ilford, East London, was identified as the attacker. A DNA sample was taken from him after he was arrested in London on suspicion of assault and the sample matched the profile from the 2011 attacks.
Venclovas was charged with one count of attempted rape and three counts of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty and was jailed for seven years and two months at Leicester Crown Court today.
Detective Constable Shannon Hughes of Leicestershire Police 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 has 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.”
Detective Inspector Lorna Granville added: “At the heart of this investigation are the three women who were assaulted that day 14 years ago. They have carried the burden of these crimes for years and it is their courage and determination that has helped bring Venclovas to justice.
“We recognise the immense impact these crimes have had on their lives, and I want to pay tribute to them for the strength they have shown throughout. I also want to commend the officers and staff from our Signal team – Leicestershire’s Police specialist rape investigation unit – specifically the work of DC Shannon Hughes, who with the team, has worked tirelessly over the past nine months to bring this case to court.
“Their persistence, professionalism, and absolute commitment to securing justice for victims has been outstanding. This case clearly highlights that justice can be achieved, no matter how much time has passed.
“Unsolved cases will always be reinvestigated should new evidence or information come to light.”