A man has been charged with raping and assaulting multiple women and children over the course of 30 years.

Steven Lock, of Willingdon Way in St Leonards, has been charged with nine counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault and three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a child.

Lock, 56, is alleged to have committed the offences between the 1980s and 2000s.

His alleged victims include two women, two boys and two girls all known to him.

Lock is set to appear at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on July 10.