Moment woman fights off smiling sex attacker who targeted six women in seaside town
THIS is the moment captured on camera that a woman fought off a smiling sex attacker who targeted six lone women in a seaside town.
The brave victim managed to fend off persistent predator Hanok Zeray, in video footage now revealed after the sex pest was jailed for eight years.
The quick-thinking 20-year-old woman’s mobile phone intervention when being attacked in the street proved crucial in helping police identify Zeray and ultimately put him behind bars.
The clip was played in court and he has now been jailed by a judge who heard how he sexually asasulted six lone women.
The 32-year-old continued his campaign of sex attacks even after being arrested on suspicion of rape, bringing terror to the streets of Brighton in East Sussex.
Zeray was also put on an extended licence of five years, Brighton and Hove News reported.
Sussex Police first launched an investigation after a woman reported being raped in Brighton’s central Old Steine area on April 16 last year.
Zenay was arrested the next day but “released under investigation while evidence was collected to pursue a charge”, the force has said in a statement following his sentencing.
Two women then reported being sexually assaulted in Brighton in the early hours of May 22 last year, with one of them being “chased” by Zenay before locking herself in her flat.
And a third woman reported being sexually assaulted by a stranger last October 23.
Sussex Police told how he “harasssed her persistently” in the street before she used her mobile phone to film his attack on her.
Zeray was arrested again shortly afterwards, based on the phone footage, and remanded in custody after being charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Three more women then came forward to describe being attacked, prompting three more charges of sexual assault.
He pleaded guilty to all six counts at Brighton Magistrates’ Court, though denied the rape charge which was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.
He has now been sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, at Lewes Crown Court, with an extended licence period of another five years.
Speaking afterwards, Det Con 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.”
Supt 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.”