Man jailed for life for sexual offences

A man who committed sexual offences against nine women in three counties over a 22 year period has been jailed for life at Warwick Crown Court.

Phillip Blackwell, 56, formerly of Western Road, Launceston, Cornwall had previously pleaded guilty to 13 counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault, one count of false imprisonment, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault by penetration, four counts of voyeurism and one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

Police say Blackwell was responsible for attacks on five women in Nuneaton and the south of Birmingham in the late 1990s.

In each case, the young women were walking alone in the early hours of the morning when they were attacked from behind.

A spokesperson from the force said: "Warwickshire Police launched Operation Fairway, working in collaboration with West Midlands Police and the National Crime Agency, to lead one of the biggest investigations ever carried out by the Warwickshire Force.

"In 2003, Blackwell moved to Cornwall and it was when DNA was checked by officers from Devon and Cornwall Police as part of a 2019 investigation into a rape in Cornwall that he was linked to two of the attacks in the Midlands; one in Nuneaton and one in Birmingham.

"He was arrested at his home in Launceston in January 2020 by officers from Devon and Cornwall Police.

"Blackwell admitted to these attacks and three more in Birmingham.

"Enquiries by Warwickshire Police led to offences against four women in Cornwall being identified."

Blackwell was sentenced to life in prison. He will serve a minimum of nine years before he can be considered for parole. He will also have to sign the sex offenders' register for life. 

Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Tedds from Warwickshire Police said: “Today is about Blackwell’s victims. Nothing can ever take away the pain they have suffered but I hope they can take some comfort from seeing him behind bars.

“They have shown great bravery throughout; their collective courage has ensured a very dangerous man is going to prison.

“As a detective constable working on the case for Warwickshire Police in the 1990s I saw first hand the terror Blackwell caused in the community. We were telling women not to go out alone; something you never want to have to do as a police officer.

“Despite not being solved at the time, the offences in the Nuneaton and Birmingham were regularly reviewed for new evidence.

“It was clear that Blackwell was very careful in his offending and this may have led him to believe he had got away with it. However, the bravery of one his victims in Cornwall in reporting her ordeal at his hands and the wonders of DNA technology have today ensured Blackwell’s past has caught up with him.

“The scale of his offending was astonishing; he is a very dangerous man and prison is undoubtedly the best place for him.

“I hope today’s outcome gives everyone the confidence that we will work tirelessly to bring sex offenders to justice no matter how long ago the offences occurred.”