A woman was gang-raped by four men in one of two sexual assaults reported to police in just four days.

Sussex Police fear attackers are taking advantage of “dimly lit areas” and preying on women celebrating Christmas.

A 28-year-old woman was assaulted in a house in Charlotte Kemp Town, Brighton, on Wednesday morning.

She was attacked by four men after spending the evening at a city nightclub with her friends.

Detective Inspector Steve Warner said police are still in the early stages of investigating the “extremely distressing” incident.

On Sunday a 20-year-old woman from Burgess Hill was raped at a house party in a road off St James’s Street, Kemp Town, Brighton.

A Sussex Police spokes- woman said: “The woman had been on a night out in the city on Saturday and went to a house party in a road off St James's Street.

“At some stage in the evening someone had sex with her without her consent.”

In reference to both incidents Brighton and Hove Commander, Chief Inspector Nev Kemp, said: “They are suspected of preying on women who had been out drinking in the city and we will do everything we can to ensure justice.”

Yesterday The Argus reported police are investigating the rape of a 27-year-old woman in a street off Ditchling Road, near The Level, Brighton, in mid-November.

The victim was attacked by a man who grabbed her from behind and pulled her onto the pavement.

She has only recently come forward.

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson said there has been “a growing trend towards unwanted sexual touching, with offenders taking advantage of dimly-lit areas and the effects of alcohol”.

He warned: “If someone is touched where they don't want to be or is not in a fit state to give true consent, we are likely to arrest the suspect.”

Mr Nelson said officers are working with management and staff of bars and clubs.

He added: “They need to understand the courage it takes for a victim to approach them for help in the first place.

“Those who commit sexual assaults need to learn Brighton and Hove offers no hiding place for them.”

Lisa Perretta , manager of the Brighton and Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership, said anyone behaving unacceptably will be banned from all of the partnership’s 275 night time economy premises.

Four men, two aged 24, one 27, all from Brighton, and one aged 29, no address given, were arrested on suspicion of rape.

They were questioned and have been released on bail until March 11 in relation to the Charlotte Street rape.

Two men, aged 17 and 21, were arrested in Suffolk on suspicion of the St James Street rape and bailed until March 9. Police are still looking for the attacker in the Ditchling Road rape.

 

 

 

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