DETECTIVES have made a breakthrough in the hunt to find who killed Teresa de Simone almost 30 years ago, the Daily Echo can reveal.

A prime suspect has been found for the rape and murder of the former gas board clerk who was discovered dead in her car in December 1979.

The Daily Echo believes he was a young man at the time of the killing and does not come from Southampton, where Teresa lived with her parents.

Teresa's Parents Speak of their daughter

Police are not confirming any more details about him.

The major breakthrough comes after the investigation into Teresa’s death was reopened in March this year following the acquittal of Sean Hodgson. It now gives a new focus for the inquiry team who hope it will lead them to solving the crime.

Hodgson, 58, walked free after serving 27 years in prison for the murder of which he was convicted at trial. He had earlier confessed to a priest while he was in prison for another crime.

The Crown Prosecution Service explains why Sean Hodgson's conviction was quashed.

Detectives from Hampshire’s Serious Crime Review Team immediately launched a new investigation with the benefit of a DNA profile taken from the scene of the murder which had ruled out Hodgson as the man who raped and killed Teresa.

The 22-year-old had just started working part-time at a city pub and had been out with friends to celebrate a birthday at the end of her shift, but never came home.

Dropped back to her car at the back of the Tom Tackle pub, Teresa was last seen alive by her friend Jenni Savage who waved goodbye at around 12.30am on December 5.

Her half naked body was found in her Ford Escort car parked in the car port at the back of the premises in Commercial Road.

She had been strangled and her jewellery stolen.

Police are now working to confirm the link between the suspect – whose details are not being revealed – and the DNA profile established at the start of the year when an initial review was undertaken into Hodgson's conviction.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil McTavish said: “While work is ongoing to maximise DNA evidence, the inquiry team is confident they are on the right track and hopefully could be close to solving this 30-year-old murder.

“We were facing an absolutely mammoth task and we didn’t – and still don’t – have the benefit of all of the case papers from the time.

“The investigation team is working closely with the Forensic Science Service to fully review all of the DNA evidence in the case in light of the new suspect.

Ultimately our aim is to prove or disprove this man’s involvement in the murder of Teresa.”

The breakthrough follows four months of intense investigation following the acquittal of Sean Hodgson at the Court of Appeal on March 18, 2009.

It has followed three separate avenues consisting of historical review and research; conventional evidence gathering which has seen key witnesses reinterviewed and exploiting DNA science.

Det Chief Insp McTavish added: “The net result is that over the past four months, in addition to re-interviewing and gathering evidence from dozens of witnesses, we have researched, located and DNA screened over 100 people of interest to the original investigation.

“We have also had a lot of scientific work undertaken by the Forensic Science Service both in terms of original exhibits and in relation to the DNA profile we have obtained.

“We have now identified a strong suspect and I am very pleased with the breakthrough.”