Woman is ‘raped on Brighton beach’ – as man, 28, is arrested

A man has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman on Brighton beach. 

Officers have sealed off part of the seafront today after the victim, aged in her 20s, was targeted during the early hours of this morning.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and is being held in police custody. 

SusSєx Police would not tell the Daily Mail the nationality of the arrested male when asked, saying it would only release that detail if he is charged, as per National Police Chiefs Council guidance. 

An area of the beach in front of the i360 tower has been closed off as police combed the beach for evidence. 

Uniformed officers are guarding the cordon, with others seen carrying evidence bags away. 

The force said: ‘Police are investigating a report of a rape of a woman in her 20s on Brighton Beach that is understood to have taken place overnight on Tuesday 4 August into Wednesday 5 August.

‘The victim is receiving support from specialist trained officers.

‘A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and remains in custody at this time.’

It comes just weeks after three failed asylum seekers were jailed after they were found guilty of gang-raping an unconscious woman on Brighton beach. 

Police have cordoned off an area of Brighton beach this morning after a woman, aged in her 20s, was allegedly raped

Officers can been seen guarding the area and carrying large evidence bags

Last month, failed asylum seekers Karin Al-Danasurt, pictured seated, Abdulla Ahmadi (centre) and Ibrahim Alshafe were jailed for gang-raping an unconscious woman on Brighton beach 

Egyptians Karin Al-Danasurt and Ibrahim Alshafe, and Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi, were each handed extended terms of up to 27 years for their ‘predatory, callous and contemptuous’ behaviour. 

Judge Christine Henson KC said during the sentencing hearing that the evidence of the small-boat migrants at trial – during which they denied raping the ‘vulnerable’ woman – offered ‘a chilling insight into your warped mindsets’.

She said: ‘The arrogant and enтιтled atтιтudes you each displayed that night continued throughout your trial.

‘Each of you were prepared to say whatever it took to deflect your actions – lie after lie, blaming others, from the police to interpreters to solicitors.’

Their victim, a local woman in her 30s who cannot be identified, became emotional as she bravely recalled the horrific 25-minute ordeal at the vile trio’s sentencing hearing.

Her voice cracked slightly as she gave evidence behind a screen. She told Hove Crown Court: ‘They destroyed my life that night – they violated me in every way.

‘My skin crawls – no matter how hard I scrub it, I still feel dirty.’

The three men were convicted of multiple counts of rape in April following a five-week trial.

Alshafe and Ahmadi, who are both 26, were each handed a 21-year jail term for two rapes.

A police community support officer guards the cordon on Brighton beach this morning – August 5, 2026

Al-Danasurt, 21, who filmed the rapes but did not physically ᴀssault the victim, was found guilty of four rapes, and handed a prison sentence of 18 years and six months.

All three were handed an additional six-year extended licence period following their eventual release from jail. They will be available for release after serving two-thirds of their prison sentences.

They have had their asylum claims turned down and are expected to be deported, although the judge said this was now a matter for the Home Office.

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