A Sussex man has been jailed for seven years for raping a 14-year-old girl and threatening police with a rifle.

Stephen Seeley raped the teenager after inviting her and another girl to a New Year's Eve party at his Eastbourne home.

The two girls told Seeley, 35, they would share a bed when they asked to go to sleep in the early hours of January 1.

He told them one of them would have to sleep in his room as the bed would not take the weight of both of them.

The girl later woke to find Seeley taking her clothes off and despite her protests he raped her telling her "she knew she wanted it", Hove Crown Court heard.

William Hughes, prosecuting, said Seeley denied having sex with the girl when interviewed by police.

He later admitted what had happened after DNA tests proved intercourse had taken place but claimed the girl consented to sex with him.

Seeley later admitted raping her to avoid putting her through the ordeal of giving evidence.

Mr Hughes said Seeley called police to his flat at Providence House, Atherston Close, Eastbourne, in April while he was on bail for the rape. He said he had been attacked by men who wanted him to sell drugs.

As police arrived Seeley opened a window, pointed a rifle and threatened to shoot them.

Seeley, who had been drinking, also urged them to come into his flat to shoot him.

He later left the flat and police found the weapon, an air rifle, propped against a window.

Frank Winslett, defending, said Seeley originally denied the rape because he feared the consequences. He had, however, admitted the offence at his first appearance in court.

Seeley was jailed for five years for rape and two years for the firearms offence. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and banned from working with children indefinitely.