A rapist who threatened a woman at knifepoint in Brighton has been jailed.
Philip Smith, aged 29, raped the woman late at night in central Brighton.
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and has a right to anonymity, contacted a friend nearby to call the police.
The friend attended the scene and disturbed Smith, who fled.
Police officers on patrol found Smith, who matched the description received, and he was found in possession of two knives in Quadrophenia Alley in Little East Street.
He was also in possession of class A drugs.
Following a trial, he was convicted of two counts of rape. At Hove Crown Court on 25 June, Smith, of no fixed address, was jailed for 13 years.
The court was told how Smith was already on court bail awaiting sentencing for a sexual assault on a woman in Brighton on 5 August 2025.
Then at about 3.30am on August 9 he approached the victim, a woman in her 30s, in Bartholomew Square and threatened her with a knife in order to rape her.
After he was arrested, Smith exposed himself to two women inside Brighton Custody Centre.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of rape, two counts of indecent exposure and one count each of being in possession of a Class A drug, and possession of a bladed article in a public place. He was remanded in custody.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbour said: “This was a horrific ordeal for the victim in the centre of Brighton.
“She was able to send a message to a friend in order to get help, and the friend’s actions and swift arrest ensured that Smith has been brought to justice.
“Tackling violence against woman and girls (VAWG) is a priority for Sussex Police.
“This case demonstrates our determination to catch dangerous offenders, and we are pleased that Smith is now serving a significant custodial sentence.”
If you are a victim of sexual offending in Sussex, we and our partners will do all we can to support you.
There are a range of independent partner services, including:
- Survivors Network: providing emotional and practical support.
- Life Centre: trauma-informed therapy and counselling services.
- Mankind: dedicated support for male victim-survivors delivered by men.
- Veritas Justice: independent support for victims of stalking
Find out more about the free support available to victim-survivors of crime on the Safe:Space Sussex website.
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