REINALDO FILHO ARRESTED IN CLAYGATE AND EWELL FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS

A man named Reinaldo Goncalo Bertoni Filho has admitted to committing two separate sexual assaults involving young girls in the areas of Ewell and Claygate during the year 2017. The details of these disturbing incidents have come to light following a series of investigations that spanned several years, ultimately leading to his guilty plea at Guildford Crown Court.

Reinaldo Filho, aged 41 and born on April 28, 1983, currently residing on Askew Road in London, appeared in court to plead guilty to charges of sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault on a girl under the age of 13. These charges stem from two separate attacks that occurred in different locations within Surrey, specifically in Ewell and Claygate. The first incident took place on July 10, 2017, on a footpath within Hogsmill Open Space in Ewell. The victim, a 15-year-old girl at the time, was cycling alone when she was approached by Filho, who then cornered her and pushed her to the ground. The assault that followed was of a sexual nature, causing her to suffer trauma and distress. During the attack, the girl managed to bite Filho on the elbow and scratch his face, which caused him to flee the scene.

Following the assault, the young victim sought help from a passerby, explaining what had happened. Investigators collected a DNA sample from her clothing, which was subsequently checked against the National DNA Database. Despite an initial lack of a match, the profile was uploaded to the database for further analysis. The second attack occurred on August 17, 2017, on Claygate Common in Claygate. The victim in this case was only 10 years old. She was walking alone when a man, later identified as Filho, jogged past her, then turned back and grabbed her. He pinned her against a tree and sexually assaulted her. The girl fought back by kicking Filho in the stomach and then ran away from the scene.

Her family was informed of the incident, and they took proactive steps to locate the suspect. They drove around the area and spotted Filho, who was out jogging and wearing the same clothing and trainers as during the attack. When challenged, Filho denied any wrongdoing and attempted to run away. A family friend pursued him on foot, confronting him and punching him, which caused an earpiece to fall out. DNA analysis from this earpiece matched the profile obtained from the first assault and the sample Filho provided to police in September 2024. This evidence led to his arrest.

Filho’s arrest was further facilitated by his attempt to join the British Transport Police as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in September 2024. During the vetting process, he was asked to provide a DNA sample, which ultimately linked him to the two assaults. His guilty plea was entered at Guildford Crown Court, and he is scheduled for sentencing on July 25.

Detective Sergeant Adele Robertson from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team expressed her appreciation for the bravery of the victims, both of whom were children at the time of the assaults. She emphasized the importance of reporting such crimes and praised the investigative efforts that led to Filho’s identification and arrest, even after eight years. Robertson highlighted the relentless commitment of the police to seek justice and urged other victims to come forward.

Chief Inspector Tracy Goddard-King of the British Transport Police also commented on the case, noting that the biometric testing used during Filho’s vetting process was crucial in linking him to the crimes. Once the connection was established, authorities acted swiftly to ensure he was detained and prosecuted. She underscored the importance of thorough vetting procedures in preventing dangerous offenders from operating within police forces and emphasized that such measures are vital for public safety and justice.