Migrants Accused of Brighton Beach Rape Held Hotel Barbecue After Assault
Three migrants accused of gang-raping a woman on Brighton beach reportedly held a barbecue at their asylum accommodation hotel just hours after the alleged violent assault, Lewes Crown Court has heard. The disturbing details emerged during the ongoing trial, which has revealed a timeline of events that includes social media recordings and conflicting defendant testimonies.
Alleged Attack and Immediate Aftermath
Egyptian national Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, and Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, stand accused of repeatedly raping a 33-year-old woman on October 4 last year along Brighton's lower esplanade. A third defendant, 20-year-old Egyptian Karin Al-Danasurt, allegedly filmed the assault while encouraging the attackers and is additionally charged with rape. Prosecutors presented video evidence showing the men preparing for their night out before boarding a bus to Brighton.
Separate video clips allegedly showing Alshafe and Ahmadi having sex with the woman behind a beach hut were played in court. Following the alleged assault, the trio reportedly returned to their Home Office-approved asylum hotel via bus, where they filmed themselves having a barbecue in the hotel grounds. In one clip, a defendant can be seen smoking while cooking meat on a portable barbecue.
Defendant Backgrounds and Movements
The court heard that Alshafe and Ahmadi arrived in the United Kingdom via small boats in June 2025, while Al-Danasurt arrived through the same method in September 2024. All three were housed at a government-approved hotel for asylum seekers either seeking or appealing their immigration status. According to testimony, Ahmadi left the Sussex hotel in what was described as an "unapproved move" the day after the barbecue, eventually being arrested in Crewe on October 12 after providing a forwarding address.
Conflicting Testimonies and Additional Allegations
Al-Danasurt told the jury through an interpreter that all three men traveled together to Brighton on the night of the alleged assault. He claimed to have visited the Horizon nightclub around 3:30 AM, meeting his co-defendants and remaining until closing time at 5 AM. The defendant accused both Alshafe and Ahmadi of lying about events after leaving the club, insisting he attempted to pull them off the woman and only filmed the incident to gather evidence for police. He specifically denied spitting on the victim.
Additional testimony revealed that Alshafe allegedly groped another woman at the Horizon club, telling her he was seeking a British bride to obtain citizenship and expressing reluctance to return to his home country. The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described her attackers as "evil men" who had ruined her life, according to Sussex Police who responded to the early morning attack.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Alshafe denies two counts of rape, while Ahmadi similarly denies two rape charges. Al-Danasurt faces more extensive charges, denying four counts of rape and one count of sharing three video clips of the alleged assault. The trial continues at Lewes Crown Court in Hove, with the jury examining substantial video evidence and conflicting accounts of the night's events. The case highlights complex issues surrounding asylum accommodation and criminal proceedings involving recent arrivals to the United Kingdom.
