A rapist who was caught 14 years after attacking a pregnant woman at knifepoint has been jailed for 18 years.

James Marshall, aged 36, of Talbot Close, Oldham, sub jected the woman to the ordeal as she walked along a path off Hornby Street, Bury, on her way to a fairground.

He pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to rape, robbery and indecent assault.

Marshall was caught after a review of DNA evidence by a unit set up to solve historic rape and murder cases.

Detective Inspector Jeff Arnold, head of GMP's Cold Case Review Unit, said: "This rape took place more than 14 years ago and for that length of time the victim has had to live with the fact that the man who attacked her has not been brought to justice.

"Thanks to advances in DNA technology it has been possible for us to trace the offender more than a decade after he committed the offence. In all likelihood, he probably believed that, with such a long period of time elapsing since the rape, he would never be caught.

"But samples of DNA are never discarded and with funding from the Home Office under Operation Advance, it is becoming possible to bring more and more offenders to justice long after they committed the offence. We continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Forensic Science Service, the CPS and St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre to identify the most serious offenders in our communities, no matter how long ago the offence was committed.

"Once arrested, Marshall denied committing the rape. He said that he couldn't remember what he had been doing in 1992 and claimed that he had never been in the field where the rape took place. The partial DNA profile combined with the fingerprint impression found on the cigarette packet provided the irrefutable evidence that made today's conviction possible."

Policing Minister Tony McNulty said: "Operation Advance is a hugely successful and pioneering project, developed by the Home Office Police Standards Unit and the Forensic Science Service.

"Almost all of the offenders convicted so far have proved to be persistent and prolific violent criminals with offending histories that stretch from the present day, back over many years. Their removal from our communities has undoubtedly had a significant impact on community safety.

"The message is clear - people who commit these horrific crimes need to know that these cases are never closed by the police and that they will be brought to justice by this and other new technologies. We are determined to ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve - the effect of this cannot be underestimated."