A male nurse who raped a 23-year-old woman has been jailed for five years.

Gary Colwell's uniform helped convict him, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Colwell, 40, of South Coast Road, Peacehaven, met the woman in April this year at a nightclub.

Colwell bought her a drink and later offered to take her and a friend home.

After dropping off the friend, the victim agreed to go back to his flat.

During a five-day trial, the jury was told Colwell raped the victim despite her repeated pleas for him to stop.

After the attack, he left the room and the victim fled.

On the way out she grabbed part of Colwell's nurse uniform and name tag to prove she had been in his flat.

Colwell, given community service in December last year for assaulting and harrassing a former partner, denied rape and argued the woman had consented to sex.

He worked as an agency auxiliary nurse in the Brighton and Hove area.

Sentencing Colwell, who was also put on the sex offenders register, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall said women were entitled to enjoy a drink from men without expecting the offer to lead to sex.

Detective Serg- eant Paul Phelps said: "These are always difficult cases to investigate because there are seldom independent witnesses."