Eastbourne Man Jailed for Rape

An Eastbourne man has been jailed for four years for rape.

Paul Simon Hearn, 44, a cleaner, of St Anthonys Avenue, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Thursday December 21.

Hearn had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury.

He was also sentenced to six months imprisonment having been convicted of harassment causing fear of violence against a woman. The six-month sentence will run consecutively to the four-year sentence.

Hearn had pleaded not guilty to all offences.

The case followed an investigation by detectives from the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit.