A MAN who dragged a woman by her hair into an alley and raped her has been jailed.

Mahad Hussein was caught on CCTV pulling the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, into an alley off Ship Street, Brighton.

There he subjected her to an ordeal that left her in shock and tears.

At Hove Crown Court, Judge David Rennie said Hussein had seen the woman only as a “piece of meat”.

He told Hussein “she didn’t want you”, but said Hussein could not accept her rejection.

After being found guilty of two counts of rape, the judge sentenced the 22-year-old to 13 years in prison.

The judge said: “Were it not for the CCTV camera you would almost certainly have got away with this brutal rape ordeal Scott-free.

“You know she was increasingly drunk, you got her drunk.

“The footage makes it perfectly clear she had no interest in sexual activity with you. We can see her moving away from you.

“She did not want you.

“But you were clearly a young man who was not going to put up with that.

“You had not the slightest interest in respecting her body. You saw her as a piece of meat.

“You forced her into the alley with your hand over her mouth.

“Then you dominated her physically in a prolonged ordeal without a care in the world, and left her in a truly dreadful state.”

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Hussein, of Tower Hamlets in London, argued that the victim had consented to sex in the early morning of January 15.

He claimed he had forced her into the alley to stop her from identifying him to passing members of a rival gang.

But the judge said the jury had seen through his account, and said Hussein was “cowardly” for making the victim go through the trauma of a trial.

Previously, Dale Sullivan, prosecuting, pointed out that after the attack was interrupted in the alleyway, the defendant had let her go.

He said: “We suggest that what can be seen on the footage other than sexual interaction is the defendant physically manoeuvring her into that alleyway.

“It shows her trying to leave, but the defendant grabbing hold of her hair and taking her head towards his groin.

“He was generally manhandling her.”

In the trial the victim told jurors she was terrified of him, and feared he had a knife after Hussein had made threats about removing a man’s eyelids earlier in the night.

DNA taken from her matched Hussein's.

Detective Constable Jack Sagar presented the crucial CCTV evidence that showed how Hussein had grabbed the woman in Ship Street.

Footage showed Hussein tripping up the woman, who had drank vodka and was already unsteady on her feet.

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Finally CCTV also captured Hussein in the alley between Marwood’s and Cafe Coho, where he backed her into the dead end, and demanded sex before she could leave.

Speaking after the case DC Sagar said: "This was a fast-paced investigation where time was of the essence.

"Our ability to view the CCTV at such a quick speed was vital to identifying and arresting Hussein.

“He showed little remorse throughout the court process. His not guilty plea meant the victim had to relive the distressing actions of the night all over again.

“I would like to praise the bravery of the victim who came forward to disclose the traumatic ordeal she was subject to. She has been provided with support.

“No one should have to be a victim of this crime and we urge anyone who unfortunately has been to get in contact with us.”

Hussein was also sentenced to nine months concurrently for affray outside a nightclub in Southend, Essex, in November and for outraging public decency by urinating in the street.

His previous convictions also include robbery, assault, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.