A Hove man has been jailed for holding down a prostitute by her throat to stop her leaving his flat.

Rupert Verrell was carrying a gun and had taken drink and drugs when he refused to let prostitute “Kitty” leave his address.

Verrell, 31, of Palmeira Avenue, Hove, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court to two and a half years in jail.

Police said the verdict showed the importance of the links they forge with massage parlours and prostitutes in the city.

Verrell phoned “Kitty” on the night of August 22, 2007. When she arrived at his address, he took a lot of drink and drugs and became angry when she refused to do some of the things he asked.

The woman phoned her sister several times to get her to send a taxi. A series of cars arrived but Verrell, who had a gun with him, barred her exit.

She eventually tricked him into letting her out of the flat by saying she would buy him cigarettes, pushing him away and running when she reached the front door.

Her sister had called police who were outside when she emerged.

She was extremely scared and so distressed she was unable to speak.

DS Tattersall, who investigated the case, said: “These are very hard cases to prosecute but we are continuing our work to develop links with sex workers in the city so they feel they are able to come forward and speak to us.”