Paul Quinn Sentenced for 2003 Rape After Wrongful Conviction of Andrew Malkinson
Paul Quinn, aged 52, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for a rape committed in 2003, a case that previously led to the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of Andrew Malkinson for 17 years. The attack occurred in the Little Hulton area of Salford, and Malkinson was convicted in 2004 despite his innocence.
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, jurors heard that Quinn's DNA was found on the victim's vest top, and that he had searched online for information about how long police retain DNA samples. Quinn, a father of six from Exeter, Devon, and formerly of Little Hulton, was also found guilty in April of strangulation and causing grievous bodily harm.
Quinn received a sentence of 24 years, consisting of 21 years in prison with an additional extended licence period of three years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 14 years, which is less time than Malkinson served while wrongfully imprisoned.
Andrew Malkinson Reacts to Sentence
Following the sentencing, Andrew Malkinson expressed his feelings about the outcome:
"I am insulted that this violent, depraved individual - who was content to let me suffer two decades of vilification and more than 17 years wrongly imprisoned for his crime - has received a softer sentence than was imposed on me, an innocent man.
"I got sentenced to life imprisonment and served more than 17 years inside.
"Throughout that time I didn't know if I would ever be released."
He added that he hoped Quinn would not be granted parole and would ultimately serve a longer sentence than he had.
"Anything less is not justice," he said.
Details of the Attack and Wrongful Conviction
The court heard that on 19 July 2003, when Quinn was 29 years old, he attacked the victim, a woman in her 30s, as she walked home in the early hours. She was brutally beaten, bitten, suffered a fractured cheekbone, was strangled unconscious, and raped.
Andrew Malkinson, then working as a security guard at a local shopping centre, was mistakenly identified at an identity parade and convicted in 2004 despite protesting his innocence. He failed in appeals against his conviction in 2012 and 2020, and was only released in 2020 after serving 17 years. His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2023.
Victim’s Impact Statement and Court Remarks
The victim, described as a "hero" by the judge, was emotional during the reading of her impact statement by her lawyer:
"For [Quinn] it was one night of his life; for me it was one night that changed my life.
"After 20 years I now have justice but that does not change the fact that two lives have been impacted in such a way.
"I am aware that someone has had 17 years robbed as a result of this case and that stays with me.
"As for me, the impact of what happened that day has stayed with me and will remain with me for life."
She added that every day she looks at her face and sees the disfigurement and scarring inflicted during the attack.
"It is a permanent reminder of that night and what I experienced," she said. "I have to live with that."
Addressing Quinn directly, Mr Justice Robert Bright said:
"She, not you Paul Quinn, is the person from this case who I will remember for the rest of my days."
Before sentencing, the judge acknowledged the difficulty for the victim returning to court for a second time, calling her "a remarkable person." He criticized Quinn for enjoying his liberty at the expense of an innocent man, stating:
"It's true you never did anything to implicate Mr Malkinson, however, but for you he would never have even been questioned."
Quinn’s Previous Offences and Investigation Details
The court heard that Quinn was already a convicted sex offender at the time of the 2003 attack. He was cautioned in 1986 for two counts of indecent assault against a female when he was 12 years old. In November 1992, he was convicted of two counts of underage sex, an offence that would today be classified as rape. Mr Justice Bright noted Quinn was 15 or 16 years old at the time, and the girl was 13.
This earlier conviction led to his DNA being taken by police a decade later, which ultimately linked him to the 2003 rape.
The six-week trial revealed that Quinn stalked the victim as she walked home, dragged her from the street, and down a motorway embankment. He was brought to justice after saliva found on her top was recovered years later.
Police Appeal and Ongoing Investigations
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have appealed for any further potential victims of Quinn to come forward. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Superintendent Rebecca McKendrick said:
"We know this outcome has come two decades too late for those impacted by this case.
"However, we will not allow time to be a barrier to justice for anyone who has further information about Paul Quinn and any further potential sexual offending."
McKendrick also acknowledged the need for answers from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and a judge-led inquiry regarding Malkinson's wrongful conviction, stating:
"GMP stands ready to support these vital reviews."
She added:
"Today brings to a close the criminal chapter to this case.
"The right man - this horrific attacker, Paul Quinn - is finally behind bars."
Public Inquiry and Wider Fallout
The case continues to have repercussions, with a public inquiry underway following a 2024 review that identified failings which could have led to Malkinson's exoneration a decade earlier. Five former GMP officers and one currently serving are under investigation by the IOPC. Additionally, both the chair and chief executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission have resigned.
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