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(Image: PARANOID PICTURES)

The identity of the mysterious street artist – whose work has sold for more than £1million – has been revealed as… posh boy Robin Gunningham.

Boffins have used a technique known as "geographic profiling" – normally used to catch serious serial offenders, such as murderers or rapists – to "prove" the long-running rumour.

Banksy has worked hard to keep his real name secret and publication of the new study was delayed after his lawyers kicked up a fuss.

(Image: PETER DEAN RICKARDS)

(Image: GETTY)

Gunningham is known to have attended the £9,240-a-year Bristol Cathedral School – but has not been seen for years.

He is believed to be about 41 or 42.

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London claim to have “tagged” Banksy by identifying a pattern between the locations where his graffiti most frequently appear and addresses with a close association to Gunningham.

(Image: BRISTOL CATHEDRAL SCHOOL) (Image: PETER DEAN RICKARDS)

(Image: GETTY)

The academics chose 140 suspected works by the artist in London and Bristol.

The locations suggested clusters of “hot spots” – which could be narrowed down to pinpoint an individual.

Hot spots were found near a pub, playing fields, a residential address in Bristol and three addresses in London.

The researchers concluded the locations were all places lived in or frequented by Gunningham.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

A newspaper investigation named Banksy as Gunningham in 2008 – but the artist has never confirmed or denied the report.

Steve Le Comber, co-author of the new study, said: “I’d be surprised if it’s not [Gunningham], even without our analysis – but it’s interesting that the analysis offers additional support for it.

"What I thought I would do is pull out the 10 most likely suspects, evaluate all of them and not name any.

"But it rapidly became apparent that there is only one serious suspect, and everyone knows who it is."

(Image: GETTY)

Gunningham once lived with artist Luke Egan – who later exhibited with Banksy.

Gunningham relocated to a flat in Hackney, east London in about 2000 – the same time Banksy, who is known to be from Bristol, relocated to the capital.

He lived with Jamie Eastman, who worked for the Hombre record label – which has used illustrations by Banksy.

Gunningham's former school pals have confirmed he was a talented artist.

But the only real evidence he is Banksy – until now – is a photo of man with spray cans at his feet, taken in Jamaica in 2004.