A man has been charged with multiple sex offences against women and children.

Shane Gibbs, also known as “Blue”, has been charged with one count of raping a woman, two counts of taking a child to remove them from a person having lawful control, intentional strangulation, three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, assault, possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and possession with intent to supply a Class B drug.

The first of the alleged offences was reported to police on December 28 and relates to people known to him.

Gibbs, 34, of no fixed address, has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, February 5.

Detective Superintendent Miles Ockwell said: “We are not currently looking for any other suspects in relation to these allegations.

“A wide-ranging investigation is ongoing into a number of lines of enquiry as we try to understand the full scale of Gibbs’ alleged offending.

“We are asking anyone who has any information that could assist with our enquiries to contact police immediately, quoting serial 655 of 7/1.”