Police in Rother have charged a man with seven counts of rape after a woman reported being attacked in her home. The incident occurred in October 2021, when a woman in her 40s reported meeting a man at her home after they exchanged messages on a dating website.
Once inside the property, the man allegedly raped her multiple times on the night of 9 October 2021, before she managed to escape and seek help. The police were informed, and the victim received support from specialist officers and community partners as an investigation was launched.
Mark Grout, 49, of Leylands Lane in Stanwell Moor, Surrey, was subsequently arrested and charged with seven counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration.
At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 5 June, Grout was released on court bail with strict conditions. He is scheduled to appear at a court to be confirmed on 5 July.
Detective Constable Mark Smith, from Hastings’ Safeguarding Investigations Unit, expressed gratitude to the victim for her bravery in coming forward. “I would like to thank the victim in this investigation for coming forward and supporting our enquiries,” he said.
DC Smith also urged other victims of sexual offences to report incidents to the police. “If you are a victim of a sexual offence, please report it to the police. We will listen to you, we will support you and we will do all we can to get you justice.”
