A man has been charged with rape after a woman was assaulted at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Nicholas Bell, 22, of Little Brays, Harlow, was arrested following an assault yesterday (April 5) at the hospital.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court later today.

Essex Police were told of an assault to a woman in her 30s at the hospital yesterday.

The woman is now being supported by specialist officers.

Meanwhile NHS staff at the hospital are battling the Covid-19 outbreak and as of Saturday (April 4) on 5pm there are 53 confirmed deaths of Covid-19 patients.

Anyone with information of the incident is asked to contact the Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team in Harlow on 101, report online at essex.police.uk or contact anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 55 111.