A 59-year-old Hove man has been locked up after admitting to sexually assaulting 11 women in public spaces. Fattah Derrahi, a British national from Farm Road, targeted women over four years, often while they were out exercising.
How Derrahi Picked His Victims
Between September 2021 and October 2025, Derrahi approached women along the seafront, especially near the Hove Lawns. He’d strike up conversations by complimenting their “energy,” then trick them into physical situations like stretching, dancing, or breathing exercises. That’s when he sexually assaulted them.
Arrest and Conviction
Derrahi was arrested in November 2025 and charged with 11 counts of sexual assault. At Lewes Crown Court on 15 December, he admitted nine charges. He accepted two more offences from 2021 during the same hearing.
Six Years Behind Bars
On Friday, 27 March, the court sentenced Derrahi to six years in prison for his disturbing string of attacks. Justice has been served after a terrifying trail of assaults on women in Hove’s public spaces.