Two men jailed over rape and sexual assault of teenager in Brighton
The victim had been in a vulnerable state before she was attacked in Pavilion Gardens
Two men who raped and sexually assaulted a teenager in Brighton’s Pavilion Gardens have been jailed for a combined total of 22-and-a-half years.
Police were called by a member of the public in June 2021 after the victim, a girl in a vulnerable state, had been attacked by two men in her company.
Investigators identified 36-year-old, Ashleigh Lewis, formerly of Albermarle Road in Bromley, and 18-year-old, Dylan Holden, of West Street in Brighton.
Both fled the scene after the assault, but CCTV footage revealed Lewis had stolen items from the victim’s bag – which were later found at his home.
Speaking in court, the victim described the devastating impact their actions have had on her life and that she has suffered nightmares.
She said: “Whenever I left my house. I couldn’t get away from it and, sometimes, I still can’t,” the statement reads.
“Getting the verdict was like a breath of fresh air, a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. But it still lingers. It’s still there, in the back of my mind, like a dark cloud in the distance it won’t go away. I can’t get it to go away.
“Thankfully with all the love and support I received from my family and the continued support of the police, the prosecution and the survivors’ network, I manage to persevere and keep going. I can’t thank them enough, words can’t explain the gratitude I feel; they are the reason I stayed alive, the reason I can keep going and the reason I am still here today.”
Sussex Police says anyone who knows a victim or has been a victim of rape, sexual assault of other sexual offences can report it online via 101 or call 999 in an emergency.
You can visit their website for more information on support services.