A missing Latvian man who spent seven years in prison for murder is now being treated as a suspect in the disappearance of Alice Gross.

Alice, 14, from Hanwell, was last seen on a towpath near Brentford Lock on Thursday, August 28,

Arnis Zalkalns, 41, from Ealing, was seen at his home on Wednesday, September 3.

Scroll down to see CCTV of a cyclist, believed to be Arnis Zalkalns, near where Alice was last seen

Your Local Guardian: Alice GrossAlice Gross

Police say he was seen on CCTV cycling along Brentford Lock 15 minutes after Alice walked there.

Police believe he will have come across Alice and detectives are now focusing on what happened next.

Mr Zalkalns is white, 5ft 10in, stocky and has dark brown hair, normally tied in a pony tail.

He lives with his partner and child in Ealing and, at the time of his disappearance, was working as a builder in Isleworth.

At a press conference today, police said Mr Zalkalns was convicted of murder in Latvia in 1998 and Latvian authorities only told the Metropolitan Police about his conviction “in the last few days”.

Police also said Mr Zalkalns was arrested in London in 2009 in connection with an allegation of an indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl, but no further action was taken.

Your Local Guardian:

Police believe Arnis Zalkans may have come across Alice near Brentford Lock

Your Local Guardian:

Your Local Guardian:

Since Mr Zalkalns left his house on September 3, he has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone and his passport was left at his home.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, from the Homicide and Major Crime Commands, said: “On Thursday, August 28, Arnis Zalkalns left work, in Isleworth, at about 3.30pm on his bike.

"Did you see him that afternoon? Either on his own, or with a teenage girl?

“I also need to hear from anyone who knew Arnis whom we have not yet spoken to.

"His family and work colleagues have stated he was behaving normally in both the days before and after Alice's disappearance.

"They are deeply concerned about his disappearance.

“Arnis has not been seen since Wednesday, September 3.

"I want anyone who may have seen him after that date, or who may have helped him by giving him money or somewhere to stay, to call and speak to us.

"It is really important that we trace Arnis and speak to him about Alice's disappearance."

So far, police have found no evidence that Alice and Arnis knew each other.

A reward of up to £20,000 if being offered to anyone who has information that leads detectives to find Alice.

Anyone with any information should call the investigation team on 020 8358 0100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.