AS THE years passed, Rupert Warner must have grown increasingly confident that he had evaded detection for the rape of a 57-year-old woman in the city centre in 1990.
Today, though, justice has been done and Warner has been convicted of an appalling crime whose consequences caused such torment for his victim that she only recently told her children what had happened.
Warner was finally snared thanks to new scientific techniques that allowed his DNA to be matched.
We applaud West Midlands Police for their perseverance in investigating the attack and the boffins whose work made possible a successful outcome.
Judge Howard Morrison has yet to sentence Warner, but let us hope that he will face many years behind bars - especially since he has a previous conviction for attempted rape.
A tough sentence would send a warning to other sex offenders and may help Warner's victim put behind her the nightmare she endured 17 years ago.
It is disturbing that a dangerous predator such as Warner could walk among us undetected for so many years.
But today we be confident that modern policing means there are few hiding places left for criminals.
Many offenders will be uneasily awaiting a knock on their door.