52-year-old Carnelly of Ambleside, Gamston, who was 26 at the time the crime was committed, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (24 January).
He was previously a director of Precision Inks (UK), a supplier of inks, films and other consumables. Before this, he was director of a similar Nottingham-based supplier, Grade 1 Supplies.
Upon release from prison, Carnelley, who pleaded guilty, will have to sign the Sex Offenders Register and remain on it indefinitely.
Mark Carnelly resigned as a director of Precision Inks (UK) last November. Companies House lists Sally Carnelly and Ross Carnelley, appointed in January 2009 and November 2016 respectively, as the firm's current directors.
PrintWeek contacted Precision, but it declined to give a statement.
Carnelley’s crime remained hidden for 25 years until it was unearthed after a random DNA sweep by Nottinghamshire Police during a review of unsolved crimes in 2015.
According to a report in the Nottingham Post, Carnelley was arrested in 2010 on suspicion of assaulting a teenager that had been causing a disturbance outside of his home. He was let off with a caution, but DNA was taken and it is this sample stored in the police database that five years later was matched with the DNA from his victim.
The jury heard how on the night of 14 September 1990, the victim had been walking along Mansfield Road, Nottingham, before she was approached by Carnelley, who grabbed her and pulled her into a close. He proceeded to rape her before fleeing the scene.
Nottinghamshire police detective inspector Justine Dakin said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim. She was frightened Carnelley would use further violence during the attack and was extremely scared throughout the whole incident.
"I would like to commend her for the immense bravery she has shown throughout the investigation. She is a truly an incredible woman, who has waited almost 27 years for justice to be served. I hope she can take some comfort from the fact that her attacker has finally been caught and is starting a lengthy prison sentence tonight.”
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