Worthing man convicted of rape and controlling behaviour offences

A Worthing man has been convicted of multiple rape and abuse offences against a woman following a Sussex Police investigation into incidents spanning several years.

Sussex Police said officers received a report in August 2021 from a woman in her 20s alleging that Mark Holden had repeatedly raped her over a five-year period while using financial control and intimidation to influence her behaviour. The force said the victim reported being forced to carry out sexual acts in exchange for money or food and being subjected to degrading treatment.

Police also said that after Holden was arrested, officers found digital devices containing prohibited images of children at his property. At Hove Crown Court on 22 May he was found guilty of five counts of rape, sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration and coercive and controlling behaviour, and had previously pleaded guilty to possessing 55 prohibited images of children. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Hove Crown Court on 11 September.