Man pleads guilty to kidnap and indecent assault of girl in 1986 - Bracknell

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Cold Case Team, a man has pleaded guilty to kidnap and indecent assault of a young girl in Bracknell in 1986.

Robert Frid, aged 77, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnap and one count of indecent assault at Reading Crown Court yesterday (24/1).

Frid is due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on the 3 March.

Head of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Investigation Review Team, Peter Beirne said: “This was an horrendous attack on a three-year-old girl, who was playing outside when Robert Frid kidnapped her.

“Frid approached the girl, claiming that he needed help with his vehicle. When the girl followed him into his VW Camper Van, Frid then drove off.

“Frid then indecently assaulted the girl in the van, before asking her to exit the vehicle and leaving her on her own. She was later found by member of the public and taken home.

“Advances in forensic science enabled our team to reinvestigate the case. Frid was then linked to the crimes, with his DNA found on the victim’s underwear. It is in excess of one billion times more likely that Frid had contributed to the DNA found on the victim’s underwear, than if he had not contributed to the DNA discovered.

“After receiving these forensic results, Frid was interviewed by Thames Valley Police in March last year, during which he made no comment to all the questions he was asked. He was subsequently charged and has now pleaded guilty to kidnap and indecent assault.

“This case demonstrates that our team will never stop investigating serious unsolved offences. We have now secured convictions for Frid’s crimes as well as 19 stranger rapes and six murders, and with the ever advancing forensic technology that we now have access to, we will lock up more offenders, and bring justice to other victims and their families.”

JW