Stoke man found guilty of 2006 rape in Shefford after DNA breakthrough
The 44-year-old will be sentenced in December.
Last updated 20th Oct 2025
A man who raped a teenage girl in Shefford in 2006 has been found guilty after advances in forensic science led to his identification nearly two decades later.
Kennedy Jimmy, 44, was convicted of rape today (Monday) at Luton Crown Court, following a five-day trial.
The assault took place on 7th October 2006, when Jimmy, then 25, met the teenage victim and her friend in a supermarket car park in Shefford. Jimmy arrived in a car with a friend, and waited until the others had entered the shop before pulling the victim into the back of the car and raping her. The victim managed to escape and fled to a nearby pub, where her friend contacted police.
Despite extensive enquiries at the time, Jimmy – known only to the victim as ‘Kenny’ – was not identified. However, as part of Operation Painter, a review of non-recent rape and sexual assault cases conducted by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, detectives found a DNA match and arrested Jimmy in November 2022.
Jimmy, of Wessex Court, Sunny Bank, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, will be sentenced on 23rd December.
Detective Constable Rhian Batterham-Jones said: “Jimmy was able to carry on living his life while the victim endured the long-term trauma of rape. However, he couldn’t escape his despicable crime forever and justice has finally prevailed.
“This case shows our commitment to pursuing those who commit violent and sexual offences against women—no matter how much time has passed, and I commend the victim’s courage in reliving this ordeal nearly 20 years later.”
Bedfordshire Police said it is continuing to work with other organisations to improve women’s safety and to support survivors of sexual violence.