Hove woman raped near the Devil’s Dyke while walking home from pub

A 22-year-old woman was raped near the Devil’s Dyke as she walked home to Hove from a country pub.

The woman was attacked shortly before midnight on Sunday 19 June or just after midnight on Monday 20 June.

Sussex Police said: “The woman had left the Shepherd and Dog Pub in Fulking at 9.30pm on Sunday and contacted a friend to say she was walking near the Devil’s Dyke.

“When she didn’t return to her friend’s house as expected, he rang police, concerned.

“Officers attended and found her in Devil’s Dyke Road. She told officers she had been punched in the face and raped by a man in a car park off Devil’s Dyke Road between 11.30pm and 12.30am.”

Detective Sergeant Mike Butler said: “We are offering the woman support as she is clearly very distressed by what happened.

“The victim describes the man as about 6ft 2in. She said there were two cars parked in the car park where the incident happened but didn’t see anyone in the cars.

“We are appealing to anyone who saw a woman walking between Fulking and the Devil’s Dyke or who was in one of the cars in the car park late on Sunday or the early hours of Monday.”

Anyone with information is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk.