Man, 66, admits 1990 Honeybourne Line rape

Paul Shakespeare was working as a taxi driver at the time

A man has admitted raping an 18-year-old woman who was walking her dog on a footpath more than 30 years ago.

Paul Shakespeare threatened the woman with a sharpened wooden stick with a nail in it in broad daylight before assaulting her in Cheltenham in April 1990.

Shakespeare, of Scaleby Close, Carlisle, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court and pleaded guilty to rape.

The 66-year-old will be sentenced in January.

The case featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme in 2008, but despite a huge number of calls from the public, no one was ever charged.

Shakespeare was caught after a DNA sample was taken by police after he was arrested for exposing himself to a woman in a park, which matched the profile of the attacker on the national database.

Shakespeare threatened the woman with a sharpened wooden stick with a nail in it

Judge Ian Lawrie said it was "extraordinary" the DNA evidence was still available to prove Shakespeare's guilt after such a long time

"I didn't realise you kept DNA banks that long," he told the court.

'Deeply horrifying incident'

The judge said the victim statement made "sadly compelling reading".

The officer in charge of the case, Simone Bowley, said the victim was "pleased to hear" her attacker had been found.

"I would like to commend the victim as her bravery and courage has been phenomenal right from the day this horrific crime took place, through to present day," he said.

"She has had to wait for more than 30 years for Shakespeare to admit his abhorrent crimes.

"This was a deeply horrifying incident."

Gloucestershire Constabulary said they were now working with police forces elsewhere in the country to see if Shakespeare is connected to any other unsolved crimes.

Shakespeare was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 17 January at Bristol Crown Court.

The Honeybourne Line is a cycle and pedestrian path in Chelteham (file photo)