Brighton flasher Abdullah Rahman jailed for sexual assaults

Abdullah Rahman was seen by a woman at a bus stop in London Road Brighton.

The 39-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker undid his trousers and exposed his genitals, a court heard.

He asked a married woman if she wanted to go back to his home after he groped her.

Then minutes later he squeezed another woman’s buttock in Trafalgar Street.

Rahman was swiftly arrested and identified by both women.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court he admitted public nuisance by indecently exposing himself and two counts of sexual assault by touching.

He was jailed for 18 weeks over the sex attacks.

Brighton Magistrates Court

Jeremy King, prosecuting, said the incidents unfolded on March 15 this year.

He said: “A woman was waiting at the bus stop in London Road. Abdullah Rahman was unknown to her. He came up to her and said ‘hello, do you like sex?’.

“Afterwards he undid his trousers and pulled out his penis. The victim felt uncomfortable.

“Then he rubbed her breasts over her coat. The defendant asked if she wanted to go back to his home but she told him she was married, and reported the matter to the police.

“A few minutes later the defendant approached a woman from behind in Trafalgar Street while she was on the phone. She was shocked when he squeezed her buttocks. He said ‘sorry’ before walking away.”

Julia Friend, defending, said Rahman’s actions were completely out of character and said his memory is limited because he was intoxicated at the time.

She said her client has shown “significant remorse”.

Abdullah Rahman admitted public nuisance and sexual assault by touching in Brighton

Rahman has lived in the UK for 20 years, and previously fled from Bangladesh over political reasons.

He lodged his application for asylum in the UK to the Home Office in 2007, but his case is apparently “still ongoing” and has left him in a state of “limbo” as he is not allowed to work or claim benefits, Ms Friend said.

Rahman has turned to alcohol as a way to cope, the lawyer said.

Magistrate Ann Gerrard said the offences were so serious that only an immediate spell in prison was justified.

Rahman, of Grantley Street, Tower Hamlets, was jailed for 18 weeks. He will also be put on the sex offenders register.

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