A Brighton man convicted of raping a teenager and trying to rape another – when he was a teenager himself – has been jailed.

Toby Macenzie, 24, of Carlyle Street in Brighton, appeared at crown court sitting in Brighton on Friday (7 November) following a conviction of two counts of rape.

In 2018, Sussex Police received reports from two teenage girls of having been raped by a boy known to them.

The first victim – who was 16 at the time of the offending – reported Macenzie attempting to rape her and subjecting her to a serious sexual assault after meeting him on holiday in 2018.

In June of that year, Macenzie also raped a 15-year-old girl in his home after providing her with alcohol. The victim woke to find Macenzie raping her in a bedroom.

She became unwell and was unable to leave the room, at which point she was raped for a second time by Macenzie.

Text messages on her phone after the attacks showed the victim reiterating that she had not consented, and Macenzie ‘apologising’ for his crimes.

Both victims were supported by specialist officers, which has remained throughout the court process.

Macenzie was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of raping a girl, attempted rape of a woman over 16 and assault by penetration.

At crown court sitting in Brighton on Friday (7 November), he was jailed for four years and six months.

Detective Constable Stewart Cameron said: “Both of these women have shown incredible courage to not only report Macenzie’s crimes, but support what has been a long and complex investigation.

“Thanks to their resolve, a dangerous offender is now behind bars where he can cause no further harm to women and girls.

“If you are a victim of sexual offending, please report it to the police. We will support you and do everything we can to get you justice.”