Officers gave Abdul Basith a police station DNA test in 2020, which matched a profile held on record from a rape from March 1999.
They were then able to reopen the case, leading him to be jailed finally for 10 years at Snaresbrook Crown Court – 24 years later.
The 52-year-old had targeted a vulnerable woman in her 20s, who had no cash for a taxi home from Leicester Square after a night out.
When she accepted a lift in his car, Basith diverted to a remote car park, where he carried out his sex attack.
He then resumed driving but stopped near Bethnal Green in east London, locked the doors and raped and assaulted her again.
After being released, the woman tried to catch a glimpse of the car’s number plate, but Basith pushed her to the ground and sped away.
Despite an extensive probe at the time, it was only 21 years on that Basith was ensnared due to an unrelated arrest – and finally convicted.
The Met Police’s Det Con Amy Laybourn said: “This woman suffered a terrible ordeal which she has lived with for many years.
“It has taken several decades for Basith to be brought to justice but thankfully that’s finally happened and we hope it has brought the victim the closure she deserves.
“The Met Police is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and I want to assure any victims who make a report that they will get specialist support and police will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”
