A VICIOUS sex attacker is facing a lengthy prison sentence after police cracked a case dating back almost 16 years.

Andrew Russell was yesterday found guilty of rape and an attempted serious sexual assault on a woman in Stockton, in December 1989.

Last night, police said other women may have been attacked by the former soldier but might not have come forward.

Russell, who was 16 at the time of the assault in a car park stairwell, had claimed somebody else must have been responsible, despite a 351 million-to-one chance that the DNA was another person's.

A jury of eight women and four men yesterday took two hours to reach unanimous verdicts on the two charges.

Russell, now 31, slumped into his chair and held his head in his hands. His mother broke down in tears when the verdicts were announced.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, told him: "The jury has found you guilty of quite horrific crimes, even though they were committed some 16 years ago and when you were still a teenager.

"Nevertheless, you must know that you face an inevitable and lengthy prison sentence. I will decide how long that will be when I know more about you."

The case at Teesside Crown Court was adjourned until next month so pre-sentence reports can be prepared by probation workers.

Following the four-day trial, it emerged that Russell had previous convictions for violence and was dishonourably discharged from the Army in 1998 after attacking another soldier.

Yesterday, Russell's victim, who was 28 at the time of the attack near the Swallow Hotel, in Stockton, sobbed as each verdict was announced.

After the case, she issued a statement praising prosecuting barrister Christopher Attwooll and detectives Pat Towns and Guy Walledge, who investigated the case when it was re-opened last year.

The woman, now a married mother, said: "I am overwhelmed and relieved that Andrew Russell has finally been convicted.

"I want to thank my family and friends for the love and support they have given throughout this ordeal.

"I also want to express my utmost admiration for the professionalism, tenacity, understanding and kindness shown by the investigation team."

Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson, who led the inquiry, said: "We are delighted this man has been brought to justice.

"His arrest is a clear warning to others who think they have got away with their crimes. Time may pass, memories may fade, but offences are never forgotten.

"Evidence gathered at the time can be re-examined and, with advances in DNA over the years, it can point the finger directly to the person responsible. People can run from their past, but they cannot escape from it."

The severity of the attack has made detectives think Russell, who lived in Hampton Road, Stockton, at the time of the rape and worked next door to the car park, may have committed other offences.

Mr Hutchinson said: "Perhaps there are some other victims of Russell that we do not know about. If that was to be the case, I would urge these women, whoever they are, to contact the police."

The rape case was closed in 1991, but it was re-opened last year under a Home Office initiative.

Russell left Stockton and joined the Army six months after his crime. He later settled in Prenton, on Merseyside. A routine DNA swab was taken when he was arrested for criminal damage.

When the Stockton case was re-opened last year and fresh tests were done on scientific evidence from the rape, the match was made and Russell was finally trapped.