Woman raped in Brighton

A woman has been raped in Brighton.

The 26-year-old had left the Tube night club on the beach before walking to the taxi rank by St Peter’s Church in St Peter’s Church Place.

As she was walking she was approached by a man, also in his mid-twenties, near to Meeting House Lane and Prince Albert Street and asked for a cigarette.

He then walked with her to the taxi rank and travelled in the taxi with her to the Hollingdean area of Brighton where he raped her.

Sussex Police issued an appeal for anyone who may have seen the pair walking through the town some time between 12.30am and 1.30am on Saturday (17 May).

Have you seen the man suspected of raping a woman in the Hollingdean area of Brighton?

Detective constable Paul Ash said: “The suspect has been described as a white and skinny, about 24 years old, around 5ft 9in, with brown hair a couple of inches long, which was swept to the right or left and came down over his forehead and appeared to have been waxed or gelled.

“He was wearing a blue diamond shaped quilted long sleeved jacket with a grey rectangular fabric sewn into the back of the jacket, medium fit blue denim jeans and  white and blue trainers.

“We are appealing to anyone who might have seen the pair walking through the city.

“The route they took was along Black Lion Street, into the lanes using Meeting House Lane to North Street, right down North Street then left into New Road.

“They then went straight across and up Jubilee Street, then either up Robert Street or Vine Street into Gloucester Place through a cut through by the Eagle pub to Gloucester Street, left into St George’s Mews.

“They then turned right down Trafalgar Street, before going left along York Place to the taxi rank in St Peters Place”.

“It was quite a long walk and we are hoping someone might have seen them as they walked past and might be able to help us with our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101.