Rapist, 33, is jailed for 15 years for attacking schoolgirl, 15, at knifepoint after police officer he went to school with recognised him on CCTV

A rapist who was identified on CCTV by a police officer he went to school with was today jailed for 15 years.

Father-of-two Adrian Cordery followed a 15-year-old girl as she walked home alone after spotting her while doing his Christmas shopping.

He dragged the teenager off a path and onto a darkened school playing field where he subjected her to a horrific sex attack.

Police recovered over 300 hours of CCTV footage before identifying a suspect lurking outside his victim's place of work before the attack.

PC Will Conroy saw the image and recognised 33-year-old Cordery from their school days almost 20 years ago.

After being given a name, detectives went to Cordery's house and obtained a DNA sample which confirmed his guilt.

Adrian Cordery has been jailed for 15 years after raping a teenage girl as she walked home from work in Dorchester town centre. Cordery, 33, attacked the 15-year-old girl using a knife

Despite the evidence, he denied being the rapist and put his young victim through the ordeal of a trial.

Cordery, a chef who lived with his long-term partner, was found guilty after he was unable to explain how his DNA ended up on the victim.

In jailing Cordery Judge Brian Forster QC said: 'The circumstances of this case are shocking.

'She was only 15, she had a bright future ahead of her.

'She was doing well at school and hoped to go to university at the highest level.

'Every aspect of her life has now been changed by your actions.

'I wish to commend the bravery of the complainant. I can only hope that she has the strength to move on from this.'

The court heard that Cordery was in Dorchester town centre in Dorset on the night of December 5 last year. His victim worked part-time in the town and she finished at about 9pm.

Cordery dragged the 15-year-old onto St Osmunds School playing field before attacking her

Her father had offered to give her a lift home but she decided to walk, listening to music along the way.

Cordery then grabbed hold of her and held a knife to a throat before pulling her to the ground.

The monster slashed at her clothes to remove them and covered her face with her jacket so she couldn't see his.

After the attack the girl ran home and curled up in a ball at the bottom of the stairs, crying hysterically.

Police obtained CCTV footage from 60 different properties along the route the victim took on the night before they had a breakthrough.

Det Insp Wayne Seymour, of Dorset Police, said: 'Will Conroy certainly came up trumps having recognised Cordery from that footage.

'I would also have to give a great deal of praise to the officer who actually identified that particular piece of CCTV footage because that was some painstaking work to have that attention to detail.

'It was from that piece of footage that PC Conroy was able to identify Cordery which was the real breakthrough for us.

'It just shows that in policing it is crucial to draw on any experience you have.'

Cordery identified on CCTV by a police officer who went to school with him more than 20 years ago. He was arrested after DNA evidence connected him and he was convicted at trial

In a recorded interview the victim, who can't be named for legal reasons, described the impact the attack has had on her.

She said: 'Since the incident I am anxious most of the time and I have panic attacks caused by nightmares and flashbacks.

'Even if I'm with someone else I try to avoid leaving the house at night because I don't feel safe.

'My grades have also taken a massive hit. I used to be good at school but now because I missed a month or two after the incident I have struggled to catch up.'

Her father added: 'This last 11 months has been a horrendous ordeal for our daughter and our family. I am grateful that it has finally come to an end.

'My daughter is an amazing, beautiful, caring and kind young lady who has been through the worst ordeal that anyone can suffer.

'This is a time when she should be enjoying a new chapter in her life but Cordery has taken that away from her.

'She will carry the mental and physical scars for the rest of her life and, as a father, I can only hope that she can put this behind her and can start to rebuild her life.'

Cordery will only be considered for parole after he has served two thirds of his sentence.

He was handed an extended licence period of eight years on top of the 15-year prison sentence, bringing his total sentence to 23 years.

He was also handed a two year prison sentence for use of a bladed item in the rape, which will run concurrently.

The 33-year-old was jailed for 15 years at Bournemouth Crown Court today and will only be eligible for parole after he has served two thirds of his sentence at which point he will be made subject to an eight-year extended licence period bringing his total sentence to one of 23 years

DI Seymour added: 'We are pleased with the sentence.

'This is a shocking case where a 15-year-old girl was taken at knifepoint and subjected to a horrific sexual assault.

'I continue to be amazed by the bravery and maturity shown by the young victim in this case throughout the past 11 months in the face of all that she has been through.

'Her courage helped to secure the conviction of Adrian Cordery for his evil crime.

'This was a complex and wide-ranging investigation and I would like to thank all those in the Force, as well as the local community and members of the public, for their support.

'This case shows that we will do all we can do bring dangerous offenders like Cordery to justice and I hope it helps to give anyone else unfortunate enough to be a victim of a sexual offence the confidence to come forward and report it to us.'