The teenage victim of a serious sex attack has won her two-year fight to change identity parade laws – with help from the Keighley News.

It happened after the courageous schoolgirl turned to the paper for help after her suspected attacker radically altered his appearance by changing his distinctive hairstyle the day before an ID parade.

As a result the girl was unable to identify her attacker in a line-up as all the men wore woolly hats pulled down to their eyebrows.

The girl, now 18, has received a letter from Government minister John Denham explaining immediate changes to identity parade laws, which are aimed at preventing cases like hers happening again.

In her case the identity parade didn’t take place until about two months after the attack because police had trouble finding people to go on it.

The minister said the Government had become increasingly aware of the problems of arranging identity parades, which were causing delays in processing cases.

Because of this immediate changes, including the introduction of a new video identification system, were put into effect to safeguard against these problems.

The girl at the centre of the fight said: “I could have recognised his distinctive hairstyle and the shape of his ears, but he changed his hair so much before the parade that they were all wearing hats so I couldn’t pick him out.

“I’m so pleased with the result. It just goes to show what can happen. I’ve followed it through and I just hope no one else has to go through what I went through.

“It’s been two-and-a-half years waiting but it’s worth it.

“This wouldn’t have happened were it not for the Keighley News. I can get on with my life now. I’ve finished college and am enjoying work.”

The paper launched a massive petition which attracted hundreds of signatures to get things changed.

Editor Malcolm Hoddy said: “Our headlines called this incident rough justice. It was.

“Apart from the petition we contacted the local MP Ann Cryer, who raised the issue at question time. The Government was reviewing the situation and this girl’s case was a vital piece of evidence to support change.

“I just wish there was something we could do to bring her alleged attacker to justice.”

Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 there was nothing illegal about the suspect changing his appearance.

The main changes now mean that police have the power – with or without consent – to take photographs of people detained in custody. They also have the further power to use reasonable force to remove head coverings, scarves or face paint. The photographs can then be used for the purposes of an identification parade.

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