Police in East Sussex is investigating reports that a woman in her 50s was raped in a graveyard by a man who sat beside her on a bench.  

The horrific incident was said to have happened at dusk by St Andrew’s Church in Hove, East Sussex, on Thursday evening.

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Detectives called to the scene said that the victim was so devastated they had so far been able to interview her in detail about what happened.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘Officers are investigating after [the woman] was reported to have been raped in the graveyard at St Andrew’s Church, next to the Tesco superstore on Church Road, Hove, on Thursday.

‘The suspect – described as a white man aged in his 40s and 5ft 6ins tall, was of average build with short grey hair and wearing jeans. He attacked his victim after sitting down beside her on a bench.

‘The incident is believed to have occurred as dusk was falling, between 5.30 pm and 6 pm,’ said the spokesman.

‘Police have not yet been able to carry out a detailed interview with the woman due to her distraught state and vulnerable condition but she is being supported by specially trained officers.’

Detective Inspector Vickie Maroki, of Brighton’s Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: ‘We believe this to be an isolated incident but clearly we want to find out more as soon as we can.

‘Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in what is a busy area is asked to contact Sussex Police without delay, quoting Operation Epping.’

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