A 25-year-old Egyptian man seeking asylum has been charged with rape following an incident on a Brighton beach. During questioning, he reportedly told an officer that his reason for coming to the UK was to marry a local woman and obtain citizenship.

Ibrahim Alshafe allegedly indecently assaulted another woman at a Brighton nightclub while expressing his desire to avoid returning to his home country, according to the prosecution case.

The court heard that while using the Google Translate app on his phone, he typed to an unidentified woman that he was searching for a British woman to marry while touching her inappropriately.

At Hove Crown Court, jurors were informed that he had spoken to the unidentified woman at the Horizon nightclub roughly an hour before a 33-year-old woman alleged she was dragged onto the beach by three men and subjected to a group sexual assault.

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

The court was told Ibrahim Alshafe crossed to the UK on a small boat on June 19, 2025 together with Abdulla Ahmadi, with both men staying at the hotel from June 21, 2025.

Ibrahim Alshafe has denied both rape charges.

Abdulla Ahmadi, 25, an Iranian Kurdish national, has also denied two rape charges.

Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, an Egyptian national, has denied four counts of rape and one charge of sharing three video recordings.

All three accused were staying at the same hotel at the relevant time.

The prosecution’s barrister, Hanna Llwellyn-Waters, said Mr Alshafe told the woman in the nightclub he would pursue a relationship with a woman, marry her and obtain citizenship.

Through Google Translate while communicating with the unidentified woman, he entered in Arabic: I’m trying to get to know a girl who can teach me English, love me. I also feel for her and take care of her. I don’t want to go back to my country. I’m trying to live in Britain.

He then touched her breasts and asked her to dance with him.

Let’s dance to warm up, he said.

I love you and I want to give you a kiss and I love your company and I want to spend a happy night with you.

All three men were apprehended on October 16.

The case continues at Lewes Crown Court sitting in Hove.