IT was an artist's sketch drawn from the memory of a traumatised 14-year-old girl - and it was to prove invaluable in the hunt for the rapist 14 years later.

When detectives working on the reinvestigation of the sports centre rape were told of a nickname that would lead them to Derek Young, they were able to compare the drawing compiled in 1994 to a picture of a man held in police custody just months later.

Young had been arrested only three months after the rape - but it was over allegations of theft which he was eventually prosecuted for.

At that time, Hampshire police did not take DNA samples and so Young was never matched to the sickening sex attacks he had carried out.

It was only after a nationwide appeal last December, which brought in several calls including the nickname of Young, that detectives were able to find his mugshot on their datatbase.

The picture, taken following his arrest in 1995, bore a striking resemblance to the victim's drawing - convincing police they were looking for the same man.