A 61-year-old man from Brighton has been sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting to grooming a vulnerable woman with money and drugs and subjecting her to a violent sexual assault and rape inside a hotel room.
Peter Phillips, of Madeira Place, Brighton, was sentenced on Monday 20 July 2026 following an extensive inquiry conducted by Sussex Police’s specialist safeguarding and public protection teams.
The prosecution outlined that the offences arose after Phillips encountered the 34-year-old victim, a vulnerable woman from Worthing, in Brighton in May 2025. Over the ensuing weeks, Phillips engaged in calculated predatory grooming, exploiting her personal vulnerabilities by providing her with cash payments and illegal drugs to foster dependence and trust.
In June 2025, Phillips invited the victim to attend a festival event. Throughout the gathering, Phillips actively encouraged and facilitated her consumption of high volumes of alcohol and substances, significantly impairing her capacity and rendering her acutely vulnerable.
Phillips then transported the victim to a local hotel. Once inside the room, he launched a violent, prolonged physical and sexual attack, carrying out an assault by penetration before raping her.
The survivor bravely reported the attack to law enforcement, supported throughout the process by specially trained officers and family liaison specialists. Sussex Police arrested Phillips on 6 August 2025, executing searches and charging him on the same day before having him remanded into custody.
At Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 20 January 2026, Phillips entered guilty pleas to rape of a female aged 16 or over and assault by penetration.
Passing sentence on Monday 20 July 2026, the court assessed the calculated exploitation, violence, and profound danger Phillips posed to the public, concluding that only a life sentence was appropriate. The judge imposed a life sentence with a mandatory minimum term of nine years and six months to be served behind bars before Phillips can be considered for release by the Parole Board. Should he ever be granted parole, he will remain on licence for the rest of his natural life.
The court also ordered that Phillips remain subject to mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all victims and complainants connected to sexual offence proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Phillips stood convicted of:
Rape of a female aged 16 or over
Sexual assault by penetration
Sentencing outcome and statutory measures:
Life imprisonment (minimum term of nine years and six months before parole eligibility)
Mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Strict lifelong post-custodial statutory licence supervision conditions enforceable upon any future release
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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