Two migrants appearing in court accused of assaulting an intoxicated woman on a beach in Sussex have maintained through legal testimony that they are not predatory individuals.

Ibrahim Alshafe and Abdulla Ahmadi are charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting a woman on Brighton’s seafront during the early hours of October 4, 2025, with Karin Al-Danasurt reportedly capturing the incident on video.

During the hearing on Friday, April 10, Ahmadi spoke to the jury, explaining that the woman approached him and his friend after leaving a seaside nightclub.

The 26-year-old, who is Kurdish Iranian, stated that she led them to the shoreline for sexual purposes.

He refutes the assault charges and insists the woman was conscious and voluntarily participated in sexual acts with both him and Alshafe.

At Lewes Crown Court in Hove, Ahmadi claimed the woman began the sexual encounter and only threatened to call police after another man struck her and spat in her face.

The woman, who has legal anonymity, informed the court she struggled to stand after becoming separated from her group when leaving the club after 5am on October 4, 2025.

Through an interpreter, Ahmadi told the court he discontinued sexual activity when Al-Danasurt struck and expectorated upon the woman. He explained that he did not complete the act and was not a sex enthusiast, stating that after witnessing something so revolting before him, he no longer felt any arousal.

He refuted telling police during interview that all three men had sexual relations with the woman.

Ahmadi asserted his prepared statement and the agreed transcript of his questioning contained translation errors. He explained to the court that he never made any statements regarding Karin’s participation.

Ahmadi insisted no force was employed to bring the woman to the beach and that she willingly engaged in sexual activity with him and his associate. He stated that she wanted it and enjoyed it. He explained that Karin arrived and at that point, spat on the woman and he left. When Karin spat on her, he stopped having sexual relations. In his view, one cannot be intimate with someone who is not willing.

He stated he called Al-Danasurt a beast and physically pushed him away. He explained that the only action he observed that distressed her was Karin’s behaviour. He stated that he found it extremely disgusting, that he pushed him away, swore at him, and called him a beast. He said that what Karin’s conduct is not something undertaken by normal people.

Sussex Police confirmed the woman was attacked at the lower esplanade during the early hours of Saturday, October 4 the previous year.

Ibrahim Alshafe and Abdulla Ahmadi both deny two counts of sexual assault.

Karin Al-Danasurt denies four counts of sexual assault and one count of sharing three video recordings.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court in Hove continues.