A convicted rapist who police said was at large in Kent or Essex has handed himself in.

Thomas O'Connor, 42, was convicted in 1999 for rape and indecent assault, and served a six-year sentence.

He is a registered sex offender who failed to notify authorities of his address when he was released from jail in March.

Following a police appeal for information yesterday, O'Connor handed himself in at a police station in Basildon, Essex, this morning.

Det Insp Jon Holl, from Kent Police's Public Protection Unit, had urged the public not to approach O'Connor, but to ring local police or dial 999.

He said police wanted to locate O'Connor "as soon as possible."

In November last year O'Connor appeared before Canterbury magistrates and admitted two breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order by not telling police he had changed his address.

He was fined £200 with £85 costs and a £15 surcharge for the breaches of the order.