18th April 2026
With credit to The Guardian
A man has been found guilty of a brutal rape that led to one of the most serious miscarriages of justice in modern British history, bringing long-awaited answers in a case that has raised major concerns about policing and the criminal justice system.
Paul Quinn, 52, was convicted of a 2003 attack in Greater Manchester for which Andrew Malkinson was wrongly imprisoned for 17 years.
Malkinson was jailed in 2004 and consistently maintained his innocence throughout his sentence. His conviction was finally overturned in 2023 after new DNA evidence identified Quinn as the true perpetrator.
The court heard that fresh forensic analysis in 2022 linked Quinn’s DNA to the crime. He has now been found guilty of two counts of rape, as well as attempted strangulation and causing grievous bodily harm.
The victim, who was attacked while walking home, said she was relieved by the verdict but emphasised the lasting impact of the case. In a statement, she noted that both her life and Malkinson’s had been deeply affected by what happened.
Serious questions are now being asked about the original investigation. Despite Quinn being a convicted sex offender living near the scene at the time, police failed to pursue him as a suspect and instead focused on Malkinson.
Malkinson has called for accountability, stating that the real attacker “could have been caught a long time ago,” and criticising failures that allowed him to remain free while an innocent man was imprisoned.
The case is now the subject of multiple reviews, including an investigation by the police watchdog into potential misconduct by officers involved in the original inquiry.
Quinn is due to be sentenced on 5 June.
The case has reignited debate over miscarriages of justice in the UK, with calls for reforms to ensure such failures are not repeated.
Source: The Guardian
