Police trying to trace man after Hove rape issue CCTV

Detectives investigating the rape of a 25 year-old-woman in Hove have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to.

Sussex Police said the woman was walking along Waterloo Street in Hove between 1am - 2am on Thursday 20th September when a man approached her from behind and put his arm around her waist.

The man told the victim that she was pretty and then offered to give her money in return for sexual favours. She refused. He then raped her.

The attacker only stopped when a man living nearby came out of the property and asked what was going on, at which point the attacker walked off southwards towards the seafront.

Officers describe the man who committed the crime as white, 5'5'' to 5'5'', aged in his late twenties to early thirties, of an Eastern European appearance, and as using broken English when he spoke.

The man was wearing a waist length fitted leather black jacket with a yellow seam on each arm, dark blue jeans and light coloured trainers.

Investigators also released stills and video of a man they want to speak to, who was seen just before the woman was assaulted.

Sussex Police said that the video shows a man emerging from an alley into Waterloo Street and turning left to follow the victim, who has just passed by and is out of the picture.

The woman is being supported by specially trained officers, and being given access to advice and counselling services.