Moment woman begs ‘please go away’ as she bravely fights off sex attacker who persistently tries to touch her – as he is jailed for 13 years for targeting six lone women
- Police identified Hanok Zeray from the woman’s footage and he was arrested
This is the moment a brave woman fought off a sex attacker who has since been jailed for eight years for targeting lone women around Brighton.
Footage shows the unidentified woman telling a grinning Hanok Zeray to ‘please go away’ as he persistently tries to touch her and harasses her on the street.
The woman was able to capture the sexual assault on her mobile phone which helped police identify Zeray and he was arrested shortly after.
Zeray, 32, of Brighton, targeted lone women around Brighton city centre on multiple occasions in 2022, sexually assaulting six women in public spaces.
At Lewes Crown Court on Friday July 21, Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.
Hanok Zeray persistently tries to touch a woman on a street in Brighton
The brave woman filmed the incident and police were able to identify the suspect from the video
An investigation was launched after a woman reported being raped in the Old Steine in Brighton on April 16. She was supported by specialist officers and Zeray was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.
He was released under investigation while evidence was collected to pursue a charge.
Then on Sunday May 22, two women reported being sexually assaulted in London Road and Southover Street in the early hours of the morning.
The Southover Street victim was chased by a stranger – later identified as Zeray – but managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.
Attempts were underway to identify a suspect when, on October 23, a third woman reported being sexually assaulted by a stranger in Elm Grove.
He harassed her persistently, but she was able to film him on her mobile phone and capture the sexual assault on film.
Officers identified Zeray from the footage and he was arrested shortly after.
He was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.
Footage shows the unidentified woman telling a grinning Hanok Zeray to ‘please go away’
Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years
Zeray, 32, of Brighton, targeted lone women around Brighton city centre on multiple occasions in 2022
Police said: ‘I would like to thank all these women for reporting his crimes to police and supporting the investigation through to prosecution’ (pictured is Zeray)
While remanded, Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked.
One on the May 22 in London Road, one in Gladstone Place on June 19 and a third on October 23 – five minutes before Zeray was filmed assaulting the woman in Elm Grove.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 24, Zeray pleaded guilty to all six counts of sexual assault and not guilty to rape. The rape charge was later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Detective Constable Amy Pemberton-Hill said: ‘Hanok Zeray was a committed offender who presented a clear danger to lone women and girls.
‘I would like to thank all these women for reporting his crimes to police and supporting the investigation through to prosecution.
‘The streets of Brighton and Hove are a safer place as a result.’
Superintendent Adele Tucknott, Sussex Police’s lead for violence against women and girls, said: ‘The behaviour shown by Hanok Zeray will not be tolerated in Sussex – from the persistent harassment of women through to the sexual assaults for which he has been jailed.
‘Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets alone at any time of day or night without being targeted by predatory men.
‘We have a range of measures to keep people safe at night and it is so important that any incidents are reported so we can take positive action.
‘In an emergency, always call 999. You can also download the Safe Space app, which has a list of designated safe spaces across Sussex where you can seek help. Download the app here Safe:Space Sussex – Safe Space Sussex Application.’
