HOVE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE SEXUAL ASSAULTS
Update 28/03/2026: Fattah Derrahi, 59, a British national of Farm Road in Hove, was charged with 11 counts of sexual assault against 11 women over a four-year period Between September, 2021, and October, 2025, Derrahi primarily targeted women who were exercising or post-exercise, often engaging them in conversation by complimenting their ‘energy’.Derrahi would engineer physical situations including helping the women stretch, dance or conduct breathing exercises, before sexually assaulting them.
Many of the sexual assaults took place along the seafront, particularly around the Hove Lawns area.
Derrahi was arrested in November, 2025, subsequently charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.
Appearing at a pre-trial preparatory hearing at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, 15 December, Derrahi admitted nine charges.
He later admitted a further two charges relating to incidents in 2021.
At the same court on Friday (27 March), he was sentenced to six years in prison.
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A Brighton and Hove man has admitted sexually assaulting multiple women in the city.
Fattah Derrahi, 59, a British national of Farm Road in Hove, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Monday (15 December), charged with nine counts of sexual assault.
The court heard that between August, 2023, and October, 2025, Derrahi primarily targeted women who were exercising or post-exercise, often engaging them in conversation by complimenting their ‘energy’.
Derrahi would engineer physical situations including helping the women stretch, dance or conduct breathing exercises, before sexually assaulting them.
He was arrested following a public identity appeal in November, 2025, and subsequently charged.
Appearing at a pre-trial preparatory hearing on Monday (15 December), Derrahi admitted all nine charges.
He has been remanded in custody, to appear for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, 23 February.
Detective Constable Sarah Whitehill said: “Women and girls should be safe to enjoy everyday activities in public without fear of being targeted by predatory men.
Fattah Derrahi denied all of these women that right.
“These were extremely distressing incidents for the victims, and I would like to thank each of them for reporting to the police and supporting this investigation.
“My thanks also extend to the public who responded so positively to the public appeal to identify Derrahi.
He was in custody within hours of the appeal going live.
