A rapist and a stalker who taped a mobile phone to his victim's car has been sentenced but will serve time in a hospital unit.

Paul Hoare was found guilty on two counts of rape by a jury and was handed a 10-year jail term.

But the 35-year-old will be detained under the Mental Health Act and will serve the sentence in prison if his condition improves.

Hoare, of Wallace Gardens, Swanscombe was also convicted for perverting the course of justice after previously admitting a charge of stalking involving fear of violence, two charges of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.

He will serve seven years on licence after the end of his sentence and was also given a lifetime restraining order and Sexual Harm Prevention Order following a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard Hoare met his victim in April 2020 while waking through Broomfield Park in Swanscombe.

He exchanged contact details with the woman and they began talking but only a few days later Hoare started behaving in a "very controlling manner", police said.

In the following weeks, Hoare stalked his victim and put the phone inside her car to trace her movements sending her messages telling her he knew where she was.

He followed her and on one occasion was also believed to have been hiding in bushes outside her mother's house and watching her.

Hoare went on to assault her, took her phone to check messages and who she had been talking to and stole a key to her home.

Several times he demanded to stay at her house, threatened and forced her to agree before raping and assaulting her.

The victim bravely told police about the offences and Hoare was arrested and charged.

The perverting the course of justice charge related to an incident when he called a friend while in prison and encouraged them to attack her in exchange for money.

Investigating officer PC Daniel Goodman said: "Hoare displayed extremely concerning behaviour within days of meeting the victim. He acted aggressively and in an intimidating manner towards her, making her feel she could not seek help.

"We take reports of stalking extremely seriously and will always carry out a thorough investigation. No person should feel unsafe when they are going about their daily business.

"Hoare admitted some of the charges but he denied raping the victim which meant she had to endure a trial and I want to commend her bravery in the way she handled this which ultimately helped to bring him to justice."