A man has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of part-time model Sally Anne Bowman who was stabbed to death outside her home in South London last year.

The 35-year-old suspect was held in Surrey at 8.30pm yesterday at his workplace about 15 miles from the murder scene in Croydon.

He was taken to a South London police station where officers will start questioning him today as police continue to search his place of work.

A police source said that the arrest was "quite strong".

"It is based on forensic evidence collected in Surrey, evidence that allegedly links him to Ms Bowman. His work address is now being searched."

Ms Bowman, 18, who worked as a hairdresser, was sexually assaulted and repeatedly stabbed just yards from her front door in Croydon in the early hours of September 25 after she returned from a night out with friends in the town centre.

Detectives have been carrying out an extensive DNA screening programme in the hunt for her killer.

She was bitten, stabbed and sexually assaulted by a suspected serial sex attacker just yards from her home in September last year following a night out with friends.

Earlier this year, officers sent letters to 4,000 men in the local area asking them to provide a voluntary DNA sample to eliminate themselves from the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Cundy said at the time that he believed her murderer had an "incredibly strong local connection" and may live in the area, have family there or work nearby.

In March, detectives set up a DNA screening centre in south Croydon, asking local men who were white or light-skinned and born between 1965 and 1985 to attend.

Sally Anne was attacked after a night out in Croydon, which included a trip to a bar before going to a friend’s address and heading home.

Neighbours in Croydon heard the blonde teenager screaming in the early hours of Sunday and her body was later found on the pavement next to a skip.

Four men were arrested in September last year in connection with the teenager’s murder, one aged 20, another 25 and two aged 26. All four were released without charge.

Earlier this month, detectives made a fresh appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme, based around a new e-fit of a suspect who had been linked by DNA to an indecent assault in July 2001.

The e-fit was compiled by the victim of that attack and released six months on from Sally Anne’s death.

Sally Anne, who worked as a hairdresser, had turned 18 only a week before she died.

She had attended the Brit School for the performing arts in Croydon where former pupils include music stars Amy Winehouse and Katie Melua. Sally Anne wanted to follow in the footsteps of Croydon-born supermodel Kate Moss and had already begun appearing on the catwalk.

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