A 30-year-old man has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act after raping a woman he met on an internet dating site.

Timothy Perkins, of Cornwallis Terrace in Hastings, has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault of a woman following a trial at Hove Crown Court.

He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act by Judge Barnes at Lewes Crown Court on Friday.

Perkins was arrested in July 2011 for raping a 24-year-old woman at her home in Bexhill after they met on an internet dating site.

During the investigation a second victim reported that she had been indecently assaulted by Perkins.

In August he was found guilty of rape on a woman and digital penetration of a woman but not guilty of the indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16.

Sentencing was adjourned until last week for assessments to be carried out which revealed that Perkins was suffering from mental health issues.

Following the case, Detective Constable Carol Shoesmith said: "Perkins shows a total disregard for the devastating effect his abuse had on his victim, who is still living with the trauma of the assault on a daily basis. I hope his conviction and sentence will go some way in to get on with her life knowing that justice has been served.

"I would like to appeal to any other victims of sexual abuse to come forward and not to suffer in silence."

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