A 59-year-old chef has been jailed for a series of sexual assaults over four years, having mainly targeted women who were exercising on Hove seafront.
Fattah Derrahi, of Farm Road, Hove, pleaded guilty to 11 charges and, at Brighton Crown Court yesterday (Friday 27 March), he was jailed for six years by Recorder Neil Mercer.
Sussex Police said: “A Hove man has been jailed after admitting sexually assaulting multiple women in public spaces.
“Fattah Derrahi, 59, a British national, of Farm Road, in Hove, was charged with 11 counts of sexual assault against 11 women over a four-year period
“Between September 2021 and October 2025, Derrahi primarily targeted women who were exercising or post-exercise, often engaging them in conversation by complimenting their ‘energy’.
“Derrahi would engineer physical situations, including helping the women stretch, dance or conduct breathing exercises, before sexually assaulting them.
“Many of the sexual assaults took place along the seafront, particularly around the Hove Lawns area.”
Sussex Police issued a public appeal for help tracing a man pictured in three security camera images.
They were shared through local media in November 2025 as part of a police operation known as Op August.
Derrahi was arrested shortly afterwards and later charged with several counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.
At pre-trial hearing at Hove Crown Court on Monday 15 December, Derrahi admitted nine of the charges.
He later admitted a further two charges relating to incidents in 2021.
At Brighton Crown Court yesterday, he was sentenced to six years in prison.
Fattah Derrahi
After he was jailed, Detective Inspector Jenny Pietersen said: “Brighton and Hove is a safer place now that Fattah Derrahi has been brought to justice.
“I want to extend my gratitude to the brave women who came forward and reported Mr Derrahi for his heinous behaviour.
“Today, we received justice for those involved and all women using open spaces in our communities.
“We remain committed to improving our service to women and girls in Sussex, working with our partners to prevent crime in the first place, provide support to victims and catch perpetrators.”