Police release CCTV footage in hunt for rapist

Sussex Police A man wearing blue jeans, a dark jacket and a beanie hat walking down a road in Hastings at night, filmed on grainy CCTV.Sussex Police
Police would like to speak to this man, caught on CCTV in Queens Road, Hastings

Police searching for a man who raped a woman in Hastings, East Sussex, have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to.

The man was filmed in Queens Road at about 18:25 GMT on 30 November, just before the attack in a nearby road.

Detectives say the man may hold vital information.

It follows the release of an E-fit image on Wednesday.

Ch Insp Simon Yates said: "We are urgently seeking to identify this man, who we believe may hold vital information about this serious crime which left a young woman in extreme distress.

"She continues to receive support from specialist officers as our enquiries continue.

"Time is of the essence, and I would encourage the public to share our appeal as far as possible in an attempt to identify and locate this man."

The attacker was not known to the woman, police said.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.