The Evening Star in Ipswich has received an award for its part in bringing sex fiend Kevin Chambers to justice.

The 37-year-old Essex man was given a life sentence in April for the doublerape of a 19-year-old Ipswich woman in a subway in the town.

A city centre CCTV operator had seen something amiss on the video camera in the subway, but without a complainant there was little the police could do about it — and that's where The Evening Star came in.

On Monday, September 13, 1999, six days after the attack, the CCTV pictures issued to the Star by the police, were printed on the front page of the paper.

The newspaper, and police, urged the rapist's victim to contact police. She did, and Chambers was utlimately convicted.

It emerged that Chambers had committed the offences within hours of his early release from a six-year jail sentence for raping a woman in Clacton as she walked home from a nightclub.

The newspaper received a Certificate of Appreciation for people outside the force for courage, intelligent, prompt and commendable action and for helping police solve crime

A CCTV operator and an off-duty policeman have also been recognised for their part in the investigation.

The awards were among a total of 27 handed out by Suffolk Police in the first ceremony of its kind, held at police headquarters in Martlesham.

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