Brighton: Predator who sexually assaulted six women jailed

Hanok Zeray, 32, of Ringmer Road in Brighton, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting six women last year.

Police said the city's streets were "a safer place" now he was behind bars.

Zeray was originally arrested on April 17 last year after a woman reported being raped in Old Steine the night before.

He was released under investigation and continued his spree of terrorising lone women and girls but was eventually arrested and charged six months later in October.

Hanok Zeray has been jailed for 13 years (Image: Sussex Police)

A month after Zeray was released under investigation, two women reported being sexually assaulted in one night, May 22. One attack was in London Road and the other in Southover Street, both in the early hours of the morning.

The woman who was chased in Southover Street by a stranger – later identified as Zeray – managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.

Months went by until another woman reported being sexually assaulted in Elm Grove on October 23.

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She captured the sexual assault on film which allowed officers to identify the attacker as Zeray.

He was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.

While remanded, Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked.

One was on May 22 in London Road, one was in Gladstone Place on June 19 and a third on October 23 – five minutes before Zeray was filmed assaulting the woman in Elm Grove.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 24 this year, Zeray pleaded guilty to all six counts of sexual assault and not guilty to rape. The rape charge was later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, July 21, Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.

The streets of the city have been described as a “safer place” now Zeray has been locked up, said Sussex Police.

Detective Constable Amy Pemberton-Hill said: “Hanok Zeray was a committed offender who presented a clear danger to lone women and girls.

“I would like to thank all these women for reporting his crimes to police and supporting the investigation through to prosecution.

“The streets of Brighton and Hove are a safer place as a result.”

Superintendent Adele Tucknott, Sussex Police’s lead for violence against women and girls, said: “The behaviour shown by Hanok Zeray will not be tolerated in Sussex – from the persistent harassment of women through to the sexual assaults for which he has been jailed.

“Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets alone at any time of day or night without being targeted by predatory men.

“We have a range of measures to keep people safe at night and it is so important that any incidents are reported so we can take positive action.

“In an emergency, always call 999. You can also download the Safe Space app, which has a list of designated safe spaces across Sussex where you can seek help. Download the app here Safe:Space Sussex - Safe Space Sussex Application.”