A man wanted for rape on a child has been sentenced to 20 years in jail after he was found in South Wales.

Matthew Perry, 38, who has links to Borehamwood, was caught sleeping rough in a park in Cardiff on Wednesday.

He had been sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on December 14, despite being absent, after he was found guilty of historical sexual offences.

Perry, who has no fixed address but is from Dudley in the West Midlands, had been charged with 11 counts of child sexual offences, including rape, after an investigation was launched after two young girls went to police in 2014.

He failed to appear at his trial in September 2016 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

A nationwide search was launched jointly by West Midlands and Hertfordshire Police, after reported sightings of him sleeping rough in Borehamwood.

His jail term will be followed by an extended licence period of five years. He will also remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Sergeant Kay Redfern, from West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit, said: “We are delighted that, with the assistance of the public and our colleagues in South Wales Police, we have removed a dangerous sex offender from our streets. We wish to thank everyone who contacted us with information that led to the capture of this man.

“I hope this brings comfort to his victims who showed tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting their horrific experiences."