A MEMBER of the street community has been jailed for raping a woman in a flat two years ago.

Unemployed Timothy Evans met the victim at a party in the property in Surrey Street, Littlehampton in April 2015.

The then 32-year-old woman had fallen asleep in a bedroom and woke to find Evans, 30, assaulting her.

Evans, of Blenheim Road, Yapton, was sentenced four-and-half-years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday.

PC Steve Hargrave, of Sussex Police, said: "This was reported to us on the same day and we quickly arrested Evans.

"Both Evans and his victim were members of the local street community and it took some time to gain the confidence of several witnesses, and of the victim herself.

"After an investigation we charged Evans, on the authority of the CPS, in March last year and the case has been before the courts since then.

"This was a complex and thorough investigation and we are glad that justice has now been done for the victim."