Three men were sentenced at Hove Crown Court in West Sussex following a predatory rape attack on a woman who had been separated from her friends during a night out. The case against the defendants—Egyptian nationals Alshafe and Al-Danasurt, and Iranian national Ahmadi—was heard over a five-week trial, ending with the jury delivering guilty verdicts after more than 12 hours of deliberation.
Alshafe and Ahmadi were convicted of two counts of rape each, while Al-Danasurt was found guilty of all four counts of rape as a secondary party. According to evidence presented at trial, Alshafe and Ahmadi took the victim behind a beach hut, where they raped her. Al-Danasurt arrived shortly thereafter and filmed the assault. Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters described the attack as “entirely predatory, callous and contemptuous,” further detailing that the woman was kicked, spat upon, and had her throat grabbed during the assault. Footage shown in court included images of Alshafe smiling throughout the attack.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, provided a moving impact statement in court, recounting the lasting trauma the assault has caused. She stated: “They destroyed my life that night, they took something from me nobody had the right to do so. They violated me in every way.” She also described the psychological effects, saying, “When I close my eyes, I see the man filming it and them all laughing at me. My skin crawls. No matter how hard I scrub it, I still feel dirty.” The woman testified during the trial that the encounter was not consensual and accused the men of being “evil” and having “ruined my life.”
The defendants were living in Home Office-approved accommodation for asylum seekers in Lower Beeding, near Horsham. Alshafe and Ahmadi had arrived in the UK on 19 June 2025 aboard a small boat from France, while Al-Danasurt, who shared a room with Alshafe, arrived on 11 October 2024. During the trial, Alshafe and Ahmadi claimed the sexual encounter was consensual, whereas Al-Danasurt said he had attempted to stop the assault by filming it.
Judge Christine Henson, in delivering the sentences, condemned the defendants, stating: “Each of you participated in an entirely predatory and callous attack on a female separated from her friends after what had been a fun night out for her. You each treated her with contempt and each played a role in degrading her in the most appalling way.” The prosecution described the men as “devoid of humanity,” highlighting the severe and lasting impact on the victim.
Following the sentencing, government ministers indicated plans to deport the three men. The case underscores ongoing concerns around the safety of vulnerable individuals and the treatment of asylum seekers living in official accommodation in the United Kingdom.