POLICE are hunting a suspected rapist who has gone on the run for almost a month.

Stephen Beal, 54 is wanted after failing to appear at court for a series of sexual offences.

The 54-year-old, of Claremont Road, Seaford, is charged with a total of eight non-recent sexual offences including rape.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to attend Lewes Crown Court on October 30.

Beal was last seen in Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, and is also known to have links to Cambridgeshire.

Anyone with any information about his whereabouts is asked to report it online or call 101 quoting serial 560 of 25/11.