A predator,Hanok Zeray Brighton Sex Offender, who pursued solitary women and girls through the streets of Brighton before committing sexual assault has been incarcerated.
Hanok Zeray, 32, of Ringmer Road, Brighton, has been sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment after admitting to the sexual assault of six women last year.
The police stated that the city’s streets are now “a safer place” with Hanok Zeray incarcerated.
Hanok Zeray was initially apprehended on April 17 of the previous year following a woman’s complaint of being raped in Old Steine the preceding night.
Hanok Zeray was released pending inquiry and persisted with his campaign of terrorising solitary women and girls, but was ultimately apprehended and charged six months later in October.
A month after Hanok Zeray was released under investigation, two women reported being sexually assaulted in one night, May 22. One attack was in London Road and the other in Southover Street, both in the early hours of the morning.
The woman who was chased in Southover Street by a stranger – later identified as Hanok Zeray – managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.
Months went by until another woman reported being sexually assaulted in Elm Grove on October 23.
Hanok Zeray was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.
While remanded, Hanok Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked.
One was on May 22 in London Road, one was in Gladstone Place on June 19 and a third on October 23 – five minutes before Hanok Zeray was filmed assaulting the woman in Elm Grove.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 24 this year, Hanok Zeray pleaded guilty to all six counts of sexual assault and not guilty to rape. The Crown Prosecution Service later discontinued the rape charge.
At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, July 21, Hanok Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.
The city’s streets have been described as a “safer place” now Hanok Zeray has been locked up, said Sussex Police.
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.”
It is unlikely that Hanok Zeray will be deported.
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