Batman rapist

Batman rapist is located in Somerset
Bath
Bath
Kingswood
Kingswood
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All but one of the rapes were committed in Bath, the other taking place in Kingswood.

The Batman rapist is an unidentified English serial sex offender who committed at least seventeen sexual assaults on women in the city of Bath, Somerset, between 1991 and 2000.[1][2] He is the subject of Britain's longest–running serial rape investigation, codenamed Operation Eagle, and has now eluded capture for more than thirty years.[2][3] Detective Inspector Paul James of Avon and Somerset Constabulary, leading the operation, said it is "one of the most complicated and protracted investigations" that the force has ever undertaken.[4] In January 2001, the Forensic Science Service used the Low copy number (LCN) DNA profiling technique to isolate the rapist's DNA "fingerprint".[5] They then began the process of taking swabs for comparison from all the men, believed to be around 2,000 individuals, whose names had come up during the course of the investigation.[4][6]

The perpetrator was nicknamed after leaving a baseball cap bearing a logo from the Batman film series at the scene of one attack.[7] Police believe that there are more victims who have never come forward.[8] The independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers UK have offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.[3] The perpetrator has also been referred to in the news media as the "Riddler".[9][10][11] The case was highlighted on the BBC's Crimewatch on 25 January 2000, including an appeal from Avon and Somerset Constabulary for information from the public.[12] As a result of the appeal, six previously unknown victims came forward.[2][13] Callers also gave the names of four potential suspects, including the son of a British diplomat, and "dozens of calls were received from prostitutes and partners of people with similar sexual habits".[9][14]

  1. ^ Taylor, Michael (1 August 2020). "The Batman Rapist: What we know about the shocking serial attacker who terrorised women in Bath". SomersetLive. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c O'Brien, Jane (18 May 2000). "Net closes on 'Batman rapist'". BBC News. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b Hopkins, Nick (25 January 2000). "Police link 11 attacks to serial rapist". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b Bennetto, Jason (25 January 2001). "Police to DNA test 2,000 in rapist hunt". The Independent. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference serial was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Savill, Richard (25 January 2001). "DNA hunt for rapist". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 October 2016 – via InfoTrac.
  7. ^ "'Batman rapist' attack". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 16 May 2000. Retrieved 13 September 2010. Archived periodical at TheFreeLibrary.com
  8. ^ "Still desperate to unmask the Batman rapist". Europe Intelligence Wire. 13 December 2003. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b Thompson, Tony (14 May 2000). "Diplomat's son suspected of 'Riddler' rapes". The Observer. p. 15.
  10. ^ "'Riddler' rapist in attack No 17". Sunday Mirror. 14 May 2000. p. 14.
  11. ^ "Riddler rapist 'is back'". News of the World. 14 May 2000. p. 17.
  12. ^ "Police hunt serial rapist". BBC News. 25 January 2000. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  13. ^ "Rapist suspected of more attacks". BBC News. 22 February 2000. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  14. ^ "Victim No 17 holds key to caging rapist". Daily Express. 15 May 2000.