A man who carried out a series of sexual attacks on women on the city's redways has been jailed for at least eight years.
Robert Horne
Sentencing Robert Horne at Peterborough Crown Court earlier today, Judge McKittrick said he will serve an indeterminate prison sentence for the public's protection and cannot be considered for release for eight years.
Horne, 26, from Garbo Close, Crownhill, carried out attacks on three women, the youngest aged 15, as they walked alone on redways within a five week period last spring.
He was found guilty by a jury of eight men and four women after a three-week trial at Huntingdon Crown Court in January.
Horne grabbed all the women from behind and dragged them into bushes bordering the redways.
He told them not to look at him and ordered them to remove their own clothes before sexually assaulting them.
The first incident happened on May 2, 2009 when a 30-year-old woman was walking towards the city centre on the redway that runs parallel with the V7 Saxon Street near Bradville shortly after 5am.
In a video recorded police interview played during the trial, the victim described how a man 'jumped' onto her, knocking her to the floor, and then forced her into the bushes where he sexually assaulted her and robbed her hand bag.
She said: "He held my neck very, very hard. I couldn’t breathe for about 20 seconds."
"I couldn't do anything. I was terrified."
The second attack happened at around 5pm on May 27.
The 50-year-old victim said she was attacked while walking on the redway near to the Mount Farm roundabout in Bletchley.
Horne attempted to rape her, sexually assaulted her and stole her hand bag.
He then attacked a 15-year-old girl on June 5 while she was walking along Railway Walk near Great Linford at around 10pm.
The court heard Horne was on the redway with his girlfriend and two friends playing with a mini moto that evening and was separated from the others as the group returned to Bradville.
Having seen the victim walk past earlier, Horne ran up behind her, put both his hands over her mouth and threw her down an embankment.
He then sexually assaulted her during an 11 minute attack and stole £60 cash.
In a video recorded police interview played to the court, the victim said: "I screamed and he put his hands around my mouth and told me if I carried on screaming he would strangle me to death."
Horne was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted rape and three counts of robbery in relation to the attacks.
He will be required to register on the Sex Offenders Register for life and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made preventing him from working with children under sixteen.
Detective Chief Inspector Joe Kidman, who led the investigation, said: "Investigations such as these are always complex and challenging.
"The team demonstrated great dedication and skill throughout, which was also noted by Judge McKittrick who commended the investigating team and all the police departments involved in bringing Horne to justice.
"This is a very significant sentence which brings some real professional satisfaction, not least because it recognises both the hurt inflicted on the victims and their courage."
Acting Chief Inspector Amanda Blake, deputy local police area commander, added: "This series of crimes had a significant impact on the community of Milton Keynes.
"It caused a lot of fear and affected how safe many people felt walking around the city.
"We are pleased that the offender has been found guilty and stopped from committing any further harm.
"I would like to thank both the public and the media for their continued support throughout the investigation."
Gavyn Bull-Jones, 21, from Lincoln, Stantonbury, who was arrested along with Horne, pleaded guilty to theft of a woman's hand bag in connection with the offence on May 27.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, which he has served while on remand.