A man has been jailed for the rape of a 12-year-old girl at a hotel in Earl’s Court nearly 30 years ago.

Philip Gonsalves was found guilty of the attack, which took place in 1987 at a B&B in Longdridge Road, at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday (March 23) and given a 15 year sentence.

The 63-year-old, from Ladywell Road, Lewisham, was caught after advances in DNA technology linked him to the crime.

The victim had been staying at the hotel, which has now closed, with her parents - but in a room of her own - when she was attacked by Gonsalves in the early hours of October 29.

Gonsalves, who lived opposite the hotel at the time, gained access to the hotel and raped the child in her room.

Police were called to the hotel and an investigation was launched, but nobody was charged.

As part of the Met’s routine, ongoing re-assessment of cold cases, DNA from the incident was re-examined and, due to advances in DNA analysis, a link with Gonsalves was identified.

He was arrested on July 26 2016 and charged on August 6 that same year.

'We are committed to bring offenders to justice'

Detective Chief Inspector Zena Marshall of the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: “We are committed to bringing offenders to justice and will not stop pursuing all investigative lines of enquiry however old.

“With the advancements of DNA we are constantly reviewing opportunities to support survivors in finding justice.”

Gonsalves will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

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