A 42-YEAR-OLD man was today jailed for eight years for raping a woman in Oxford 24 years ago.

Nicholas Harding, who now lives in Preston, Lancs, was caught by Thames Valley Police's cold case review team in December after new forensic tests identified him as the rapist.

Harding was 18 when he attacked a woman in West Street, Oxford, in January 1985.

Recorder Paul Garlick today at Oxford Crown Court described as a vicious attack as he sentenced the married father-of-one to eight years.

Det Supt Barry Halliday, of the cold case review team, said he was happy with the sentence.