Three Afghan migrants convicted of 'extreme' rape of woman on Brighton beach jailed for total of 78 years

Three small boat migrants convicted of the “extreme” rape of a woman on Brighton beach have been sentenced for 78 years after a brave survivor said they “destroyed” her life.

A jury in April convicted Egyptian national Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, and Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, of the “callous” rape of the woman in the early hours of October 4 2025.

Egyptian national Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, was also convicted of all four counts of rape as a secondary party because he encouraged the rape and filmed it.

Al-Danasurt was jailed for 24 years and six months.

Alshafe and Ahmadi were both sent down for 27 years.

The men must serve two-thirds of the custodial period before being considered for release.

The three men had been living in an asylum hotel in nearby Horsham at the time of the attack.

The prosecution had said that Al-Danasurt, who was pictured laughing as he was led from the court after being convicted in April, was convicted of murder in Egypt before he illegally entered Britain on a small boat crossing.

The court heard today that Al-Danasurt had said in his second asylum interview with the Home Office that he had been convicted of murder in his absence but insisted that he was innocent.

He also received a caution for criminal damage in April 2025.

Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC said that the defendants subjected the victim to multiple simultaneous rapes.

“She was treated as a receptacle for their gratification,” she said. “At times, she was unconscious. When she came into consciousness, she was unable to move or breathe properly due to her actions. She recalls pleading with them but was met with mockery, insults, jeering, derision.”

The prosecutor continued: “Such was the contempt, Al-Danasurt forced her mouth open and caused injuries, spat in her mouth, encouraging his friends to do the same.

“She was called a dirty b****h and a f***ing b****h as they raped her.

“Alshafe slapped her face as he was being raped by Ahmadi. He was laughing. He had claimed during the trial that the slapping was merely playing.”

Alshafe had previously told the court that he was a virgin looking for a British bride.

She continued: “Alshafe and Ahmadi posed for the camera in celebration of their actions. There was evidence of enjoyment in her denigration.

“All of the defendants were active participants in her ordeal. They were all complicit in the sustained, systematic degradation.”

The court heard that after the men left Brighton, as the victim spent hours at the sexual assault referral centre, the men enjoyed a barbecue together.

The judge was told about how recordings were sent from Al-Danasurt’s device to Ahmadi’s, which he saved and hid in his device and revisited repeatedly.

“That amounted to trophy footage and was revisited by him for the purpose of reliving the rapes for his own enjoyment.”

The court heard that he revisited the footage when he was in Crewe, having self-absconded from asylum accommodation before being arrested in the same month of the attack.

A victim impact statement was read out in court by the survivor of the attack last year.

The three rapists listened via Arabic and Kurdish interpreters.

The victim said that on the night of the rape, she had gone out drinking with two friends.

She said that she was having a good time with her friends, but as a consequence of what had happened that night she doubts that she will have a drink again or go out again.

“It affects me in every way in day to day life … sometimes it’s okay but most of the time it’s unbearable.”

She paused to compose herself before saying: “All I say when I close my eyes is the face of the man who was filming it.”

She continued: “Most nights when I try to sleep, all I can hear is the seagulls and the waves and their laughter in my head.”

The brave survivor said that she often feels like she can’t breathe and “no matter how much I scrub [her skin], I still feel dirty.”

She continued: “I feel embarrassed … to have had my body violated that night.

“I ask myself what kind of person would do this, let alone three.”

She said: “They destroyed my life that night. They violated me in every way.

“They took something from me that I’m afraid I will never get back.

“To not take accountability for their actions is like sticking a knife and twisting it again.

“I hope one day that I can find peace. I hope the laughter, the seagulls, the tight chest will stop one day.”

All three have reportedly been refused their asylum applications.

During mitigating proceedings, Ahmadi issued an apology via his barrister, saying that he was deeply upset for what he had caused.

His counsel also revealed that he has signed paperwork for deportation.

“Immigration authorities have seen him on two occasions, he has given the authorities all the relevant information.”

Ahmadi also asked for the return of his mobile phone.

Her Honour Justice Henson said it was a “predatory and callous attack” on a woman who had been separated from her friends on what had been a fun night out.

“It has had a life-changing, profound and irrevocable impact on her.

“Most of the time her life is now unbearable. When she closes her eyes, it is the filming, the laughter, and the verbal abuse that repeats in her head.”

“She describes that you each destroyed her life that night and violated her in every way. I hope that she can focus on her tremendous bravery, that she has demonstrated in contacting the police and giving evidence to the jury, which has allowed each of you to be brought to justice.

“The impact on her by multiple rapes in group activity can be legitimately described as extreme.

“This is the only realistic conclusion I am able to draw from all I have seen and heard in the trial.”

She continued: “I conclude that the fair approach on the evidence is that this was an opportunistic but obvious targeting by you, Alshafe and Ahmadi, of a highly vulnerable woman.”

The judge said that the men “seized their opportunity” and “led her away into darkness”.

The court heard that it was clear of the footage of the rapes, filmed by Al-Danasurt “that she was drifting in and out of consciousness.”

“When she came to, she described pleading with each of you to stop, but was instead met with mockery, insults and further sexual assaults.”

The judge said that she was certain that the filming was for “some kind of trophy” inspired by their “own warped sexual gratification.”

HHJ Henson referred to the men urinating around her, kicking her, and laughing. “You each treated her with contempt.”

She continued: “It was a sustained, systematic degradation and humiliation of your victim by each of you.”

“The speed with which the victim was targeted and then led into darkness as a sexual object … was shocking to view.”

The judge said: “The arrogant and entitled attitude 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, whether it be the police, interpreters, or legal aid solicitors.”

She said that the men had “warped” views on consent and held women “in contempt.”

The judge summarised that the incident of multiple rapes by more than one person over a 30-minute period could properly be described as a sustained incident.

"Your victim was particularly vulnerable due to her unconscious state during most of the ordeal. She was purposefully moved from the street to darkness. This in my judgment is a form of abduction.”

Assessing the aggravating factors, HHJ Henson said that the overall criminality merited an upward adjustment beyond the sentencing guidelines.

The judge said she had gained a “chilling” insight into their warped mindsets, which she said displayed a “complete lack of remorse and empathy.”

Describing their ages as “unverified,” she added that the men were a high-risk of further offending.

Noting that there was no guarantee for them to be deported, as it is a matter for the Home Office, HHJ Henson said she had to consider the risk the men were likely to pose on their release from custody.

Ahmadi was said to have demonstrated violence towards female staff in prison and have a dislike of women in authority. Prison staff had recorded attempts to intimidate women.

Al-Danusart took a sip of water and bowed his head before being sentenced.

He was jailed for 24 years and six months.

Alshafe and Ahmadi were both sent down for 27 years. The two men were emotionless while being sentenced.

The men must serve two-thirds of the custodial period before being considered for release.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter