News Story

A sex offender convicted of a brutal rape for which an innocent man was jailed, has been given a 21-year prison sentence.

Father-of-six, Paul Quinn, 52, made no reaction as he finally faced justice, 23 years after the sex attack for which Andrew Malkinson was wrongly convicted, in one of the worst miscarriages of justice cases in British criminal history.

After Quinn was found guilty in April, Mr Malkinson, who spent 17 years behind bars, said he was a treated as a “handy patsy” for police who just wanted a “quick conviction”.

Jailing Quinn today, following a six-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Robert Bright told the defendant: “You sat back and enjoyed your liberty at the expense of an innocent man.

“It’s true you never did anything to implicate Mr Malkinson, however, but for you he would never have even been questioned.”

And he described the woman Quinn attacked, who twice had to endure giving evidence at a trial, as “heroic”.

“She is truly a hero,” he added, as the victim sat listening at the back of the court, clutching a white handkerchief and hugging her husband.

Quinn was given a 24-year sentence, comprising of 21 years custody with an extended licence of three years. He will be eligible for parole in 14 years less than the term served by Mr Malkinson.