- He harassed her persistently, but she was able to film him on her mobile phone and capture the sexual assault on film
- While remanded, Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked
A woman was able to scare off a sex attacker who had been preying on lone women in the streets of Brighton.
The unidentified woman filmed Hanok Zeray as he tried to touch her, begging him to ‘please go away’ in October.
Police were able to use the footage to identify Zeray and he was arrested shortly after.
Zeray, 32, of Brighton, targeted lone women around Brighton city centre on multiple occasions in 2022, sexually assaulting six women in public spaces.
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.
An investigation was launched after a woman reported being raped in the Old Steine in Brighton on April 16.
She was supported by specialist officers and Zeray was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.
He was released under investigation while evidence was collected to pursue a charge.
Then on Sunday, May 22, two women reported being sexually assaulted in London Road and Southover Street in the early hours of the morning.
The Southover Street victim was chased by a stranger – later identified as Zeray – but managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.
Attempts were underway to identify a suspect when, on October 23, a third woman reported being sexually assaulted by a stranger in Elm Grove.
He harassed her persistently, but she was able to film him on her mobile phone and capture the sexual assault on film.
Officers identified Zeray from the footage and he was arrested shortly after.
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 on the May 22 in London Road, one 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, 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.
