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DNA Vetting Exposes Serial Child Predator in Police Recruitment Process

Reinaldo Goncalo Bertoni Filho pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults from 2017 after his DNA matched evidence during a British Transport Police application.

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Anyone applying to be a police community support officer with the British Transport Police is subject to vetting that includes DNA testing

Overview

  • Reinaldo Goncalo Bertoni Filho, 42, pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court to two sexual assaults on minors, with sentencing scheduled for July 25, 2025.
  • The assaults occurred in 2017, targeting a 15-year-old cyclist in Ewell and a 10-year-old girl in Claygate, both in isolated areas.
  • DNA evidence from the 2017 cases, including a profile from clothing and an earbud, remained unmatched until Bertoni Filho's 2024 police application.
  • Mandatory DNA sampling during British Transport Police's vetting process identified Bertoni Filho as the offender, leading to his arrest.
  • Police praised the victims' bravery and highlighted the importance of biometric vetting in preventing dangerous individuals from entering law enforcement.