SHANE GIBBS SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR SEXUAL PREDATOR ACTS IN SUSSEX AND PORTSMOUTH

A man identified as Shane Gibbs, who has no fixed address, has been officially sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual and violent crimes committed across Sussex. The court proceedings took place at Hove Crown Court on March 14, following a conviction that was handed down in November at Lewes Crown Court. Gibbs, aged 35, was found guilty of a series of serious offenses involving four women and two girls, with the court ordering that he serve a minimum of 18 years and 299 days behind bars before being eligible for parole.

The police first became aware of Gibbs’ disturbing pattern of offending on December 24, 2023. An urgent manhunt was launched to locate him, as investigations linked Gibbs to six separate attacks that occurred during December of that year. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, Gibbs would systematically drug and intoxicate his victims with alcohol, rendering them incapable of resisting or preventing his sexual assaults. These manipulative tactics allowed him to carry out his crimes with a disturbing level of premeditation and cruelty.

All of Gibbs’ victims received support from specialized officers trained to handle such traumatic cases. His arrest was made on January 4 in a hotel located in Portsmouth, where he was found and taken into custody. Following his arrest, Gibbs faced multiple charges, including eight counts of rape, five counts of sexual assault by penetration, as well as charges of intentional strangulation, false imprisonment, and causing actual bodily harm. Throughout the legal process, Gibbs maintained his innocence, denying all charges against him.

At Lewes Crown Court on November 29, Gibbs was found guilty of all charges except one count of rape, of which he was acquitted. The impact of his actions has left deep scars on his victims, who shared their emotional and psychological struggles during victim impact statements. One victim expressed her anguish, stating, “I couldn't put into words the level of anguish and sorrow for you to comprehend just how much Shane has broken me.” She described how her ability to love and trust has been severely compromised, saying, “I can’t love the way I loved before because I cannot trust the way I did. I don’t trust myself anymore, how can I trust my own judgment again? I trusted this person, his words, and I lost myself to that. How can I look at anyone and believe what they say or do?”

Another victim shared her feelings of violation, saying, “I feel violated by Shane Gibbs and I think that even the thought of him doing what he did to us is horrible. We were all so vulnerable, and I look much younger than my age. This has opened my eyes to a lot.”

Emma Lile, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, emphasized the severity of Gibbs’ predatory behavior. She stated, “Gibbs was a sexual predator who went around the Brighton coastline preying on vulnerable young women in pursuit of his own hideous purposes. We would like to extend a special thanks to the victims who came forward to report these crimes and gave evidence to the court about their horrific experiences. These convictions send a very clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who abuse or sexually exploit women. I encourage any victims of violence against women and girls in whatever form to report the crimes committed against them. It is never too late to seek justice — you are not alone, and there is help available.”

Detective Superintendent Ben Newman highlighted the collaborative effort involved in bringing Gibbs to justice. He said, “From the moment we were made aware of Gibbs’ offending, we have worked tirelessly with our partners and other forces to protect his victims and ensure he was held to account for his crimes. Complex investigations such as these rely on the collaboration of a huge number of people, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their outstanding work. Victims sit at the heart of all of our investigations, and as a force, we have undertaken a full review of how we investigate rape and other serious sexual offences to give us the best possible chance of catching offenders, while supporting their victims. If you are a victim of sexual offending, please report to us in the confidence you will be heard and supported, and we will do absolutely everything we can to secure the justice you deserve.”