Man pleads guilty to rape and grooming of a child

Thomas Crabtree is due to be sentenced on 12 September

A man has pleaded guilty to six offences, including rape, against a boy in West Sussex.

Thomas Crabtree, 35, of Sundew Close, Bedford, was charged with rape, assault by penetration, engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity, meeting a boy under 16 years following grooming, and taking a child to remove them from a person having lawful control.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday and is due to be sentenced on 12 September.

Sussex Police said a boy under the age of 16 reported receiving sexual messages from a man on Snapchat and then being raped, sexually assaulted, and driven for more than three hours before managing to escape when they met in Worthing in April.