“He was also in possession of a black balaclava.”
Aynul Hoque, aged 32, of Brighton, was jailed for eight years for raping an unconscious man on the city’s beach.
The chef had targeted a tourist who had been on a night out on August 1, 2020. After meeting friends, the victim went to sit on the beach.
Jennifer Gray, prosecuting, said the incident happened at around 5 am.
The victim was friendly and had talked with Hoque. The pair drank vodka together, but when the victim became “deeply unconscious”, Hoque raped him.
A member of the public had witnessed the horror unfold and called the police.
When officers arrived, they found Hoque pleasuring himself next to the victim. Police also found Hoque in possession of a balaclava and condoms which indicated he may have been planning to commit a sex attack.
Sussex Police said: “His arrest came after police were called by a member of the public shortly before 5 am on Saturday 1 August 2020, reporting a man appeared to be having sex with a man who was unconscious.
“Officers quickly attended the scene, to the east of the pier, and found Hoque masturbating in front of the unconscious victim.
“He was arrested and first aid was administered to the victim.
“Hoque was positively identified by witnesses and was found to be in possession of some items belonging to the victim.
“He was also in possession of a black balaclava.”
Hoque pleaded guilty to raping the man on the beach as well as theft.
On the incident, the victim said:
“After this incident happened I felt confused. I was surrounded by police and ambulances, I felt shocked.
“It has made me feel really up and down. I worried about getting HIV. When I waited for test results I felt really bad about myself.
“I didn’t know how to deal with what happened, it broke me.”
Ravi Dogra, defending, said Hoque arrived in the UK from Bangladesh in 2005 and had previously escaped an unhappy arranged marriage.
He said that his client was a gay man who was “stuck in a conservative culture” where his sexuality risked him being subjected to violence.
Judge Christine Laing QC said that Hoque took advantage of the victim’s friendly behaviour.
She said: “This was a dreadful offence.
“Someone had been good enough to be prepared to have a conversation with you and allowed you to have some of his alcohol.
“Nothing can explain why on earth that when he became unconscious, deeply unconscious, you then chose to rape him.
“I have heard about your background in your home country, if anything that increases my concern about why you behaved in the way you did, showing absolutely no restraint in raping the victim as he lay on that beach.”
The Argus reported that at Brighton Crown Court, Hoque was jailed for eight years.
Detective Constable Stephen Nutley said:
“The victim, in this case, had been enjoying a visit to the city when he was subjected to this truly horrific attack.”
“It has caused him a great deal of trauma and distress, and he has been supported by specialist officers throughout the investigation.
“On the night in question, he had been walking along the seafront after a night out with friends.
“He had stopped and had friendly conversations with a number of people, before heading down to sit on the beach.
“It was there that the suspect took advantage of the victim.
“Thanks to the vigilance of members of the public, and the swift response by officers, we were able to arrest the suspect at the scene.
“We built a strong case and despite Hoque initially denying the offence, he later pleaded guilty.
“The fact he was in possession of a balaclava, in our mind, shows he was intent on committing an offence that night.
“We are pleased to see the severity of the attack reflected in the sentence handed out by the judge today.”
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