Advances in DNA have identified a man who raped a teenager 24 years ago after dragging her onto wasteland in Deal, telling her he was armed with a knife.

Paul James Dyne, 45, has pleaded guilty to the rape after officers from Kent Police investigated the case again.

DCI Dave Withers said: "In 1986 a young woman's life was changed dramatically by this horrific unprovoked attack.

"Twenty four years have passed since then and she has lived with this every day. We hope with the conviction of Dyne for this terrible crime she is now able in some way to move on with her life."

Dyne, from Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey, was charged at his home on December 22 and pleaded guilty before Maidstone Crown Court. He is due to be sentenced on June 10.

* For full story see this week's East Kent Mercury front page.