Brighton rapist jailed for eight years

A man has been jailed for eight years for raping a 13-year-old girl at a property in Whitehawk after plying her with drink and drugs.

Rawad Bastawi, 31, of no fixed address, was sent to prison today (Friday 24 August) after a two-week trial at Lewes Crown Court.

He was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting the girl but acquitted of raping a 15-year-old girl and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

He was accused of attacking the girls in the Brighton property in December last year and knew all three of them.

Officers from Sussex Police arrested him on Monday 9 January.

Rawad Bastawi

Detective Constable Ed Downes, who led the investigation, said: “Bastawi is a despicable individual who abused the trust of the victim and her friends over a number of days by plying them with alcohol and cannabis.

“Today’s verdict and sentence brings a successful resolution to what has been a long ordeal for the families involved.

“The sentence imposed sends a clear message that offences of this nature will be harshly dealt with if found guilty.

“By not pleading guilty he put his victims through the ordeal of having to give evidence and relive the abuse they suffered at his hands.

“I would like to pay tribute to them and their families who bravely came to court to give evidence in the case.”

Bastawi will also be put on the sex offenders register and has been served with a sexual offences prevention order restricting his contact with teenage girls.

Detective Constable Downes said: “I would appeal to anyone who is a victim of sexual crime or knows of someone who they think is being abused to please contact us .

“Your call will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence and we will work with our partner agencies to provide you with the right support and care.”