Paul Shakespeare, 66, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of rape in 1990.
Gloucester Crown Court was told he targeted an 18-year-old dog walker as she was walking on Honeybourne Line in Cheltenham 30 years ago.
The teenager, who at the time of the incident was 18 years old, was approached by Shakespeare and threatened with a sharp weapon, and then dragged into nearby bushes, threatening to kill her if she reports him.
He continued to evade judgement for 30 years, despite numerous public appeals to find him.
The DNA breakthrough meant they were able to track him down arrest him for his crimes. He was arrested in August last year.
The victim told the court that she “had to pretend it did not happen” and that she “felt embarrassed, violated and dirty and did not want to share this with anyone.”
He has been sentenced for nine years on one count of rape and one count for a possession of an offensive weapon on public display.
