Lying Wigan rapist nailed by damning DNA

James Fitzgerald will in December learn how long he is to spend in prison after a Bolton Crown Court jury convicted him of two sex attacks on a 21-year-old woman.

The 37-year-old of Mayfair Drive, Marus Bridge, had denied charges of rape and sexual assault of the same victim on October 13 2018.

After several days of evidence, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict but after the judge said a majority would be allowed, he was convicted of both offences by 11 jurors to one.

The hearing was told that immediately after she was subjected to her ordeal the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told her boyfriend and the police were called. Following his arrest forensic experts seized Fitzgerald’s clothing and examined his body, finding traces of his victim’s DNA in an intimate place.

Likewise, the court heard, traces of Fitzgerald’s DNA were also detected on the young woman’s clothing which backed up her account of what happened.

The defendant continued to maintain his innocence, but following conviction he was remanded in custody pending a sentencing hearing at the same court on December 4.

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