In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Fattah Derrahi, 59, was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against multiple women. Appearing at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 27 March 2026, the defendant—a British national of Farm Road, Hove, East Sussex—admitted to 11 counts of sexual assault. It was reported that the offences took place over a four-year period between September 2021 and October 2025, primarily targeting women in public spaces.
The investigation established that Derrahi targeted women who were exercising or post-exercise, often approaching them on the seafront and around the Hove Lawns area. Sussex Police reported that he would engineer physical situations by complimenting their energy and offering to help with stretches, dance moves, or breathing exercises. The prosecution reported that once he had established a physical situation, he would then carry out the sexual assaults.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Derrahi was identified and arrested in November 2025 following a successful public identity appeal. Lewes Crown Court heard that during a pre-trial preparatory hearing on 15 December, he initially admitted nine charges, later pleading guilty to a further two counts relating to incidents in 2021. The investigation established that his predatory behavior denied women and girls the right to feel safe while enjoying everyday activities in Brighton and Hove.
Detective Inspector Jenny Pietersen stated that the city is a safer place following the conviction and thanked the brave victims for their support. For his actions in Hove, Derrahi was handed a six-year custodial sentence. The judge noted that the calculated nature of the assaults—specifically the use of “energy” compliments and physical instruction to facilitate abuse—required a significant prison term to protect the public and provide justice for the 11 women involved.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Fattah Derrahi as of 27 March 2026 is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 6 years (Sentenced March 2026).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Lewes Crown Court following a Sussex Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual assault (11 counts).
- Origin: Farm Road, Hove, East Sussex.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Derrahi will be managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) as a high-risk predator within the East Sussex area. Due to the nature of his conduct in Hove, which involved targeting strangers in prominent public spaces like Hove Lawns, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of exploiting social interactions and exercise settings necessitates the most intensive supervision and potential exclusion zones from the seafront area upon any future release.
As a registered sex offender for life, Derrahi’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his predatory behaviour in Farm Road requires permanent vigilance by offender management teams. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements or any attempt to approach women in public spaces for “physical instruction” will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of women and girls in Sussex.
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