Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad continue to appeal for information in relation to the sexual assault of a woman in 1990.
The incident left the complainant traumatised and with life-altering psychological injuries.
On Sunday 22 July, 1990 it's alleged two men entered the woman's house in Wendouree West between 4-5am and sexually assaulted her.
The woman's children were in the property at the time.
After the men left the woman's home, she told her teenage daughter who alerted a family friend. That friend subsequently reported the matter to police and the investigation commenced.
At the time, a number of items were seized from the complainant's home which were forensically tested in 2019 when the case was re-opened by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives.
A person of interest was identified by investigators and they were subsequently able to link a now 57-year-old man to the incident via DNA.
In 2019 Brett Braddock was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to burglary and aggravated rape.
He was sentenced at Ballarat County Court in August last year to 12 years and two months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of nine years.
The second man involved in the incident has never been identified and despite an extensive investigation, police are yet to charge anyone else in relation to the matter.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and police are again appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Detective Senior Constable Phil Drews, of the Sexual Crimes Squad, said police believed the two offenders were known to each other or linked in some way.
"The first offender was the victim's neighbour, however he has never provided us with any information about the other man involved," DSC Drews said.
"We have made a number of enquiries over the years but have still not been able to identify the second person.
"However we do still receive new information on this matter and we're hoping that someone out there has details that will lead to us tracking this man down.
"We'd like to speak to anyone who remembers Brett Braddock and any friends or acquaintances he might have had, where he spent his time, things he liked to do - which will hopefully give us some clues about any other man he could be connected to."
Officer in charge of the Sexual Crimes Squad, Detective Acting Inspector Mark Burnett, said the investigation was far from over for police.
"It absolutely does not matter that this incident happened 30 years ago or that we have already charged one of the offenders," he said.
"We're not going to give up and we are determined to find the second person involved.
"This was a brutal incident that had significant and long-lasting impacts on our victim, which she has had to live with for three decades.
"On the other hand, this man has lived those years with relative freedom and no repercussions yet for what he did.
"From our perspective, an investigation isn't over until everyone responsible is held to account - we've had one person charged but we are determined to find the second offender.
"Someone out there will have the information that we need to solve this - it doesn't matter how insignificant or trivial you think that detail is, history has shown that it's those small pieces of information that can make the biggest difference in solving a case like this.
"If you lived in the Ballarat area around the time of the incident in 1990 and have any recollection of Brett Braddock and his associates, or have heard any information over the years about who might have been involved that night, I am urging you to come forward.
"Cold case investigations are unique in that updates to science, methodology and legislation allow us to progress a case in a way that may not have been possible at the time of the incident, so receiving information even 30 years later can still make an enormous difference.
"Our investigators are determined to keep going until this is fully resolved and the victim gets the justice she deserves."
Victoria Police encourages all victims of sexual assault and child abuse, and anyone who has knowledge of such a crime, to make a report.
We are committed to investigating and bringing to justice those people responsible for sexual assaults, no matter how many years have passed.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
