Asylum Seekers Accused of Gang Rape on Brighton Beach After Nightclub Encounter
A court has heard disturbing allegations that three asylum seekers gang-raped a lone, visibly intoxicated woman on Brighton beach just 90 minutes after one of the accused spent part of the evening chatting up another woman using Google Translate. The case, unfolding at Hove Crown Court, involves Egyptian-born Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, Iranian Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, and Egyptian Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, all charged with rape.
Nightclub Interactions and Digital Communication
The jury of seven women and five men was told that on October 4 last year, the three men were partying at the Horizon nightclub on Brighton seafront. CCTV footage allegedly captured Alshafe speaking to an unknown blonde woman. Since she could not speak Arabic and he could not speak English, they communicated via the Google Translate app on his phone.
Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters read messages from the exchange, revealing the woman asked Alshafe where he was from and questioned his motives for coming to the UK. She inquired about his future goals, specifically asking: 'Is your only goal here to marry a British woman?' Alshafe allegedly replied that he aimed to build his future, meet a woman, get married, have children, and become a citizen.
The conversation took an uncomfortable turn when the woman stated she did not believe he just wanted to be friends because he was touching her breasts. She identified as bisexual and in love with another woman, though she complimented his appearance. Alshafe persisted, telling her: 'I love you. I want to give you a kiss and you don't want to. I want to spend a happy night with you.' The woman eventually left, saying it had been nice but asking not to be judged for who she was.
Alleged Predatory Attack on the Beach
Just 90 minutes later, around 6am after the nightclub closed, the prosecution described a 'cynical, predatory and callous' attack. CCTV allegedly showed the three asylum seekers outside the club, where they encountered a woman in her 30s who was visibly intoxicated. She had left the club and visited a nearby Burger King before staggering along the seafront.
Instead of offering assistance, the men allegedly led her down a ramp onto the pebble beach. They found a secluded spot behind the Beach Patrol hut, where they are accused of gang-raping her. Al-Danasurt allegedly filmed the assault and egged the others on, leading to an additional charge of sharing intimate videos of the attack.
Background of the Accused and Legal Proceedings
The court heard that Alshafe and Ahmadi arrived in the UK by small boats in June 2025, while Al-Danasurt arrived via the same method in September 2024. All three were staying at a Home Office-approved hotel for those seeking or appealing asylum and immigration status.
In a concerning development, Ahmadi disappeared from the hotel in Sussex the day after the alleged rape. Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters noted he left in an 'unapproved move' and was marked as absconding after self-departing. Asylum accommodation teams failed to locate him, and he was arrested on October 12 in Crewe.
The three men deny all charges, with the trial continuing to examine the evidence, including digital messages and CCTV footage. The case highlights serious allegations of violence and raises questions about the monitoring of asylum seekers in the UK.
