A "dangerous sexual predator" from East Tilbury has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of three rapes.

Ricki Lee, 28 of Coronation Avenue, appeared at Basildon Crown Court. He was subject to separate investigations against two separate victims. In both cases, the victims reported that Lee had entered their bedroom and raped them whilst they slept in their own homes. The offences happened in 2019 and 2020 in South Ockendon and Benfleet.

Lee was charged and in October, following a two-week trial, he was found guilty of three counts of rape.

Following sentencing at Lee's latest appearance at court, where he was also placed on the sex offenders register for life, Detective Constable Karen Miller, one of the case investigating officers from essex Police said: "Results like these are exactly why we do this job. To put perpetrators behind bars and support the most vulnerable of victims.

"The bravery of these two victims to report what Lee did to them has protected other women from a dangerous sexual predator.

"In both these cases, Lee raped the vulnerable women in their own beds and attempted to lie when being interviewed by police.

"The impact of Lee's crimes is devastating, with one victim moving across the country to try and get a fresh start.

"I hope that the sentence has provided them with some form of relief and that they can move forward."