A rapist who fled justice last year has been caught and locked up.

Ryan Page, of Woodlands Road, Ditton, was convicted in his absence after he failed to attend his trial at Maidstone Crown Court in December.

Now police have arrested Page in Albany Road, Chatham. He is now in custody and will face a sentencing judge on March 3.

Page committed the rape in August 2008.

The court last year heard how he telephoned the 21-year-old victim the following day and claimed to work for the police in an attempt to find out if she had reported the attack.

Peter Alcock, prosecuting, said that Page went to buy cigarettes at a garage and sent a text message saying: “I would love to give you a kiss. What do you think? Just between you and me then.” Mr Alcock said the woman simply replied: “No.”

Sidestep

“There were further messages along the same lines,” said the prosecutor. “At no point did she say yes. It seems she was trying to sidestep this awkward conversation.”

When Page, 21, returned, he seemed embarrassed and sorry. He asked if he could stay until the end of the film on television.

He sat on the end of her bed watching the movie and then suddenly kissed the woman.

Mr Alcock said the victim started to cry. Despite saying she did not want to, he raped her.

He added that she should get the morning-after pill. Before leaving, he told her: “Delete them messages.”

However, the victim kept his messages and told her doctor what had happened.

Swabs taken from the victim matched Page’s DNA profile. He claimed sex was consensual.