Woman, in her 20s, is 'raped on Brighton beach' - as man, 28, is arrested

By MATT STRUDWICK, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:32, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 11:49, 5 August 2026 A woman has allegedly been raped 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 on suspicion of rape and is currently being held in custody.  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 currently 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.' 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, three failed asylum seekers were jailed after they were found guilty of 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 – when they denied raping the 'vulnerable' woman – offered 'a chilling insight into your warped mindsets'. She said: 'The arrogant and entitled attitudes 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 assault 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. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.