A man cleared as a suspect in a 20-year unsolved murder investigation has been jailed for molesting a drunken and distressed teenager after a Jools Holland gig.

Malcolm Shipley, who was once arrested over the disposal of prostitute Glenda Potter's body, admitted sexually assaulting the 19-year-old woman as she lay crying in Rochester High Street.

Jailing him for 14 months, a judge told the 35-year-old he had "deliberately taken advantage" of his victim after the Rochester Castle Gardens concert.

Shipley (pictured above) first began to comfort the girl, who was upset over the death of a former boyfriend, by stroking her hair.

But his actions became more sinister as he touched her bare inner thigh and put his hand inside her underwear.

The court heard he ignored her pleas to stop and then stole her bracelet before fleeing.

He was arrested within minutes after CCTV operators located him hiding shirtless behind a pillar on Rochester Bridge.

Shipley, of Arden Street, Gillingham, admitted sexual assault and theft on what would have been the first day of his trial.

In January, he exclusively told the Messenger of his relief after receiving a letter from police clearing his name in the Glenda Potter murder hunt.

The mother-of-four, 32, was found half-naked in the grounds of the United Reformed Church, now the Vines Church, in Crow Lane, Rochester, after being sexually assaulted and strangled in May 1991.

Shipley said: "Even my own mum had this tiny part of her that believed it was me, but when I got the letter I told her how relieved I felt."

Maidstone Crown Court heard Shipley assaulted his victim in the early hours of July 17, 2009 after she became separated from her friends on a night out.

Catherine Donnelly, prosecuting, said she became upset as she walked along the High Street.

Three boys tried to help her, but then Shipley approached. He assaulted her before taking a bracelet off her arm and walking away.

Shipley told police after his arrest it was a case of mistaken identity.
A head injury several years ago is said to have left him "every forgetful".

Following his release from prison, Shipley must sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years and will be barred from working with children.

Shauna Ritchie, defending Shipley, said he had no recollection of what happened and wanted to spare his victim the ordeal of giving evidence.

Described as being "very, very drunk" at the time, Shipley had spent the day drinking with a group of 30 friends and could remember nothing after leaving the Castle Gardens at the end of the concert, she said.

"He has been very troubled at the thought of putting his victim through the ordeal of giving evidence when he has no memory of what happened," explained Miss Ritchie.

"He wants to be honest and true and cannot say with 100 per cent certainty that these events could not have happened in the way the prosecution allege."

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said Shipley's drunkenness was not an excuse and possibly an aggravating feature of the case.

He said: "It is quite clear you took advantage of your unfortunate victim who was quite obviously in some distress.

"You appeared to try and comfort her initially, but then quite deliberately took advantage of her condition."

The judge added that he had put the girl through a "frightening and most upsetting" ordeal.