A 17-year-old who claimed to be a victim of a university campus sexual assault has been arrested.

Sussex Police said the teenager, from Brighton, had been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time after she made the report of the attack earlier this month.

The teenager told police she had been sexually assaulted at knifepoint in the early hours of February 15 close to student accommodation at University of Sussex's Falmer campus.

But Sussex Police said that after a “thorough investigation” she had been arrested and has been released on bail until April 19.

Last week detectives also closed the investigation into a second alleged sexual assault at the campus reported on February 21.

Police said there was “no evidence” the 20-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted.

Detective Inspector Mick Jones, of Brighton and Hove CID, said yesterday: "Sussex Police takes allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously. All reported offences are subject to a thorough and professional investigation with an emphasis on supporting the victim and gathering all available evidence to bring offenders to justice.

"We work closely with our partner agencies to help keep people safe from harm and are currently assisting the university in raising awareness of these issues.

"The introduction of Sexual Assault Referral Clinics and independent sexual violence advocates has helped us improve the service we provide to victims and I would encourage those that have been victims of this type of crime to come forward."