Gavin Jeffery Durbridge charged with raping a Perth boy in 1991

“New investigative techniques using genetic genealogy, coupled with good old-fashioned detective work, have led to this result,” a spokesman said.

“The Investigative Genealogy Team became involved in this case earlier this year and their research led to the identification of a family tree with almost 3,500 individuals. Hard work that continues to this day.”

The DNA technique is the same method police in the US used to catch the Golden Gate Killer, who was responsible for nearly 60 burglaries, 50 rapes and 13 murders. He had at least 106 victims since the 1970s but was not arrested until 2018, when police used genealogical data to match his DNA to the crimes.

“Investigative genetic genealogy is a new investigative technique in which Western Australia Police are leaders nationwide,” said Rohan Ingles, Detective Superintendent of the Special Crime Squad.

“This technique involves evaluating crime scene samples or DNA samples from unidentified human remains and processing them in another process, namely the genetic genealogy website, to determine who that profile belongs to.

“Solving such cases is incredibly rewarding, but most importantly, it gives victims the reassurance that they are not forgotten and that we are constantly investigating these crimes.”

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Durbridge was charged with false imprisonment and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

He applied for bail through a public defender, but was denied after the judge said the details of the crime were among the worst he had ever heard.

“The prosecution is based on DNA evidence, and DNA evidence is generally strong evidence,” he said.