Yesterday, at Hove Crown Court, three men convicted of a 'predatory' rape on Brighton beach in October 2023 were handed significant prison sentences. Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, from Iran, and Ibrahim Alshafe, 26, from Egypt, received lengthy custodial terms of 21 years each. Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, also from Egypt, was sentenced to 18 years and six months for his role in the assault, which included filming the attack.
During sentencing, Her Honour Judge Christine Henson KC described the attack as "entirely predatory and callous," highlighting its devastating impact on the victim. She noted that the men "treated her with contempt" and "played a role in further degrading her" before adding that their arrogant attitude persisted throughout the trial.
Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC detailed how the incident unfolded in the early hours of 4 October 2023. The three men had been visiting bars and nightclubs along Brighton seafront, actively seeking women "for sexual purposes." After leaving a club, they encountered the victim at a fast-food establishment before proceeding to the beach.
The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous due to legal protection, shared a powerful statement detailing her ongoing trauma. She recounted wishing she could go back in time and stay indoors that night, revealing the profound psychological scars left by the ordeal: "All I see when I close my eyes is the man who was filming it. All I can hear is the seagulls and the waves and the laughter in my head."
Each of the convicted men will be required to serve two-thirds of their custodial sentence before they become eligible for parole consideration. The substantial sentences reflect the severity and premeditated nature of the crime, as well as the lasting harm inflicted upon the victim.