Pavilion Gardens attack: Brighton rapist Andrew Ford jailed

Andrew Ford has been jailed for attempting to rape the woman in the Royal Pavilion Gardens and raping another woman in Brighton.

At Hove Crown Court new details were revealed about the second sex attack – in the gardens – in June last year.

It was revealed he had spent hours wandering the streets, calling various telephone lines to look for prostitutes after a night out with friends.

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He doubled back when he saw a woman who was obviously drunk and then hid in trees waiting to attack her.

Shocking CCTV footage then captured the moment he ran behind her, grabbed her in a choke hold and dragged her to a private spot.

Jennifer Gray, prosecuting, said: “It’s clear she had no chance of making any noise due to the speed of the attack and the choke hold used.

“There were members of bar staff a few feet away while it took place.”

Ms Gray said the CCTV evidence was “overwhelming”.

She told the court that Ford had bought pornographic magazines before the incident, and had been on the phone looking for an escort a minute before the attack happened.

Ford, 23, was found guilty of rape and coercive control of another woman in Brighton.

Judge David Rennie said Ford had shown contempt for his victims and treated them like “pieces of meat”.

He said there was a danger to the public of Ford committing similar “brutal” offences.

Ford was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with an extended licence period of five years. He will serve at least two thirds of the 20-year term before he can be considered for parole.

The court heard how the choke hold rendered the woman unconscious, then he attempted to rape her.

Ford used the same type of choke hold described by his first victim, who said he forced himself upon her on the day she had had an abortion.

Ms Gray said it was because of a media appeal in The Argus that the first woman came forward to reveal her experience.

Meanwhile the Pavilion Gardens attack happened at about 5.30am on June 8.

A security guard was so concerned about the woman that he called the police as she walked home.

The young woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was later found by a homeless women who supported her and contacted the police.

Ms Gray revealed that Ford then took steps to hide evidence. 

He returned to the scene to pick up the woman’s hoody.

Ford told police he sent his own clothes, including a parka coat bought as a Christmas present six months earlier, to a charity shop. But that was a lie.

He shaved his hair and beard, and started to wear a baseball cap in an attempt to disguise himself.

But a clear CCTV image was shared widely, helping to bring him to justice.

Ms Gray said: “During his interview he told a mass of lies.

“He manipulated the answers, such as his description of what he did with the clothing he was wearing that night.

“He would give some detail and then close down, saying he was too drunk to remember details of what he did with the clothes.

“It is clear that he was forensically aware – he disposed of his clothing including his watch that he wore that night and the hoody that the woman had dropped.

“He also wiped his phone so that the police could not see the calls he was making or his movements around the area.”

Ms Gray said Ford had also made a final attempt to call an escort at 7.30am before getting a bus home.

CCTV footage on the bus showed Ford appearing to turn away from people to hide himself while on board and looking at more porn magazines.

One victim said: “Seeing the footage, I see that drinking is bad. I was emotionless. 

“I was like an object that he used and then put in the bin. That’s how I felt.

“Seeing myself and what he did was crazy. 

“He just thought about it, and went to me like an animal, he thought about it before doing it.”

Ford, formerly of Bramble Way, Stanmer Heights, admitted false imprisonment and attempted rape, and was found guilty of rape and coercive control.