Description
A sexual predator was caught attempting to rape a woman on a Brighton beach.
Bereke Russom, 32, from Eritrea, stalked the victim before attacking her around 3am on August 27, 2022. He was stopped by a beach patrol on a quad bike.
Russom was sentenced in absentia to eight years at Lewes Crown Court after failing to appear for sentencing, having fled bail during his January trial upon seeing CCTV evidence disproving his lies to police.
Prosecutor Richard Sedgwick said efforts to locate Russom had failed.
The court heard Russom traveled from Gatwick to Brighton. The victim, separated from her group after a night out, called a friend when alone. Russom snatched her phone, continued talking, refused to reveal their location, and hung up.
He dragged her to the beach, pinned her down, forced himself on her, and exposed his penis while pulling open her clothes. She told him to stop.
The patrol spotted him on top of the distressed woman and called police.
In her victim impact statement, she said: "After that night, I lost a part of myself I’m no longer sure I will ever get back."
Russom claimed they talked all night after she approached him in a bar, but he needed a translator and admitted forgetting his ID, preventing bar entry. CCTV showed her alone when he grabbed her phone and him leading her to the beach.
A jury convicted him after a five-day trial.
Defense barrister Steve Wedd apologized:
"In mitigation, I have a handful of nothings. I have no client and no expectation of him attending court any time soon or surrendering for sentence."
Recorder James Hay said: "He must’ve identified she was very drunk and alone. Made clear by taking control of her phone, refusing to answer questions, he must’ve formed the intention to rape her. It was only by sheer chance this was spotted by beach patrol on a quad bike."
Russom received eight years for attempted rape and six concurrent for sexual assault by penetration. Last seen in Leeds, West Yorkshire, he must serve at least two-thirds in custody before parole eligibility if apprehended, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.