A man has been remanded in custody charged with the rape of a woman in Eastbourne.
Police were called over a report that a young woman was raped on the beach late on Thursday, 9 July, near the bandstand.
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is receiving support from specially-trained officers.
A 20-year-old man was promptly arrested in connection with the incident.
Sussex Police can confirm that Romeo Mihai, 20, a Romanian national of Fulbourne Road, Waltham Forest, was subsequently charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault.
He was charged and remanded to appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 13 July to answer the charges.
Following the hearing, he was remanded in custody and will next appear before a crown court to be confirmed on 10 August.
Detective Inspector Steven Shimmons said: “This was a distressing incident which we are taking extremely seriously.
“We are continuing to investigate the circumstances and are appealing for witnesses or anyone in the area at the time who may have seen something suspicious to come forward.
“Anyone with CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage in the area at the time is also asked to come forward if they have not already done so.”
Information can be reported to Sussex Police online, or call 101 and quote Operation Gilford.
More help and support for victims of rape and sexual assault is available on the Safe:Space Sussex website.
More guidance on how Sussex Police investigates reports of rape and sexual assault is available on the Sussex Police website here.
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