Imiela quizzed over Milly Dowler

Imiela was given seven life sentences in March

Serial rapist Antoni Imiela has been interviewed about the murder of Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Surrey Police confirmed Imiela, jailed for life in March, was questioned at Wakefield Prison on Tuesday.

They said Imiela, from Appledore in Kent, was "very co-operative" and gave detectives an account of his movements on the day the 13-year-old disappeared.

Milly vanished on 21 March 2002 - police said they were checking Imiela's account of his activities on the day.

'Similarities in offences'

The schoolgirl, whose real name was Amanda, disappeared as she walked home from Walton-on-Thames railway station.

Her body was found six months later in Fleet, Hampshire.

Imiela, 50, was given seven life sentences in March after being convicted of seven rapes on three girls and four women, plus the attempted rape, kidnap and indecent assault of another girl.

Milly Dowler's body was found six months after she went missing

His offences took place between November 2001 and October 2002, mainly in the South East of England.

After his conviction Surrey Police told BBC News Online that detectives planned to speak to Imiela about Milly Dowler because of "similarities in the offences that we now know he was responsible for".

They said officers working on Operation Ruby - the hunt for Milly's killer - had been aware of Imiela for some time but had been unable to speak to him about the girl's death while the investigation into the rapes was ongoing.

On Thursday a Surrey Police spokeswoman said the force "always intended to talk to him".

She said: "Officers from Operation Ruby interviewed Antoni Imiela at Wakefield Prison and he was very co-operative and gave us an account of his movements on 21 March 2002.

"This account is being checked into and enquiries continue."