A male predator who "systematically preyed on and exploited" a vulnerable woman he met on a dating site has been jailed.

Peter Drury, from South Wales but with links to Gravesend, turned the woman in a prostitute working for him and used her to provide sexual services for money to men across the South East and South Wales, police say.

But he was snared by law enforcement after a 26-year-old woman living in West Sussex contacted officers in April 2019.

Detectives found evidence that Drury had had several other women working for him as prostitutes over a six-year period, but were unable to identify most of them, Sussex Police said.

Police have revealed that the 49-year-old, from Wellfield Avenue, Neath, South Wales, was jailed for 16 months at Lewes Crown Court last Thursday.

Drury, who police say had ties to Gravesend during the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to a charge of controlling prostitution for gain between 2013 and 2019 at Crawley Magistrates Court in November 2019.

Detective Constable Andy Roe, who investigated the case, said; "Drury systematically preyed on and exploited this very vulnerable woman for his own financial purposes.

"As soon as she came to us we immediately began enquiries and traced Drury and we are glad that this exploitative man has now been brought to justice."

Drury set up an online escort service to carry out his criminal operation and took the woman to men who had contact him for his "services," taking a 50% cut of all she earned.

Over time, police said the stress of this arrangement caused her "increasingly distress" and eventually she came to them for help.

While there was evidence that several other women also worked for Drury, only one was identified and she did not wish to give evidence, police told the PA news agency.

Detective Constable Roe added: "His conviction and sentencing sends the message that we will always pursue reports of anyone having been exploited for sexual or any other sinister purpose.

"If you or anyone you know is being exploited or assaulted, we can be contacted at any time online or by calling 101, and arrangements can be made for you to talk to experienced investigators."