Martin Eke, left, as he is today and, right, a photofit from the time of the rape

by Paul Hooper

A Tonbridge driving instructor was jailed for EIGHT years today - for raping a woman 26 years ago.

Martin Eke, 46, was found guilty of the 1986 attack - thanks to the work of Kent's Cold Case police.

Judge Adele Williams told the officers they deserved commendations for tracking down the sexual predator.

And she told Eke that he had been convicted at Canterbury Crown Court on the most compelling evidence that he had carried out a "cruel, degrading and pitiless rape."

His victim, Jacqui Spriddell, 21 from Folkestone, died in 2000 from renal failure - and never saw her attacker jailed.

The judge said justice had come "too late" for his courageous victim but her family and friends have "seen Eke receive justice".

Eke, (pictured right. Picture Mike Gunnill) from Douglas Road, was newly married and an ambitious shoe shop manager in Folkestone in the mid 80s.

Then one night while he was at a loose end, he came across Jacqui on her way home after watching a live band in a local pub.

He grabbed her, raped her - and when he realised that police were hunting him - fled the area.

And for more than 25 years, Eke thought he has escaped justice - but in 2005 he was arrested for assault on a partner.

Although he escaped with a police caution, officers took his DNA and filed it away.

Five years later, when Cold Case officers decided to review the unsolved rape - they found a match... Eke's.

Today - 11 years after her death - her rapist began his jail sentence.

Det Ch Insp Rob Vinson said after the sentencing: "It's a big regret for everyone involved in working on this case that Jacqui isn't here to see her attacker finally brought to justice.

"For Jacqui, her family and friends it's been really important that this man doesn't commit anymore offences and gets the justice he deserves.

"The whole case really is shocking when you look at her life and what she had to face as a result of this attack, then many years later one of the really disgraceful things is the defence this man tried to put up to try and drag her name through the mud.

"To have her name put out is something the family weren't confortable with but it couldn't be stopped as she has now passed away.

"But the family now are just really pleased that someone has been brought to justice for her and hopefully they can start rebuilding their lives."

The scene of the attack in Folkestone