Woman raped on Brighton beach

A Brighton woman was raped on the beach in the early hours of this morning (Friday 24 August).

Police were called to the beach just south of East Street, Brighton, shortly after 2am where the woman, who is in her mid-forties, had been left crying and distressed.

She had met up with three men near the Sealife Centre and one of them had invited her to go for a drink with him.

They went to the beach where he forced himself on her. He was seen to stand up and walk off.

The man was described as a bald white man with dark eyebrows and stubble, possibly a slight goatee beard. He was said to be about 5ft 7in tall and aged in his mid-twenties to early thirties.

He was wearing two-tone faded jeans and a dark, possibly blue, top. He spoke with an eastern European, possibly Albanian or Polish, accent.

It is thought that the other two men were of similar ethnic origin.

Detective Constable Aran Boyt said: “This was a terrible experience for the victim whose evening has suddenly turned from an enjoyable night out into a shocking attack.

“We need to identify this man and the others who were in his company when they first met up with the woman earlier.

“Have you seen them locally or did they travel in and out of the city on Thursday night/Friday morning?”

He urged anyone with information to call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.