Three asylum seekers who illegally entered Britain in small boats have been convicted of gang raping a woman on Brighton beach. Iranian-born Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, and Egyptians Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, and Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, repeatedly assaulted the 33-year-old victim behind a beach hut on October 4 last year.
Details of the Assault
Al-Danasurt filmed the assault on his mobile phone and shared the video, claiming in court he had made the recording to 'gather evidence for police.' When questioned about his understanding of consent, he stated he thought 'rape was sex,' adding that the woman was so drunk she could barely stand. The three men, all staying in Home Office-approved accommodation for asylum seekers, had a barbecue at their taxpayer-funded hotel in Brighton after the assault.
Events Leading to the Attack
Lewes Crown Court in Hove heard that the asylum seekers filmed themselves getting ready and partied at nightclubs before targeting their victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons. CCTV footage showed the group chatting up and groping other women throughout the night, including a friend of the victim. In one clip, Alshafe communicated with an unknown blonde woman via the Google Translate app at Horizon nightclub. She asked about his motives for coming to the UK, and he replied about building a future, marrying, and becoming a citizen.
Earlier footage showed Ahmadi and Alshafe at Revolution nightclub, where Ahmadi groped the victim's friend. Al-Danasurt also put his arms around an unknown woman and stroked her bottom. The three men left Horizon nightclub after it closed at 5 am and targeted the lone victim, who described herself as 'paralytic drunk' with no recollection of how she ended up on Brighton beach.
Victim's Testimony
The victim remembered drifting in and out of consciousness while being repeatedly abused. In a video interview, she said: 'So at first it was like I was coming round and someone had their finger in my mouth... Like every time I, I was there but I wasn't... I could see a light in my face... and I could hear a foreign accent saying 'Dirty b****, dirty b****'.'
Defendants' Statements
Alshafe claimed during the trial he lost his virginity during the gang rape, saying, 'No, it was the first time. I was happy that I'm trying something like that for the first time.' Al-Danasurt was questioned about filming the assault. When asked if he was witnessing a rape, he replied, 'I see sex in front of me.' He added, 'Rape to me is sex,' and did not understand the distinction between consent and non-consent. He told police he filmed to gather evidence, but the prosecutor noted, 'You did precisely nothing. You went off and had a barbecue with them the next day.'
Aftermath and Verdict
The men filmed themselves getting ready for a night out and later returned to their hotel after the rape, where they filmed themselves having a barbecue in the grounds. All defendants denied the charges but were found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court. Sentencing will occur at a later date.
