A former University of Sussex student has been handed a substantial prison sentence for a campaign of sexual violence against five women over a three-year period.
Details of the Attacks
Alex Patel-Wills, aged 26 and originally from London, was found guilty of a series of horrific offences committed between 2018 and 2021. The majority of his crimes took place in Brighton, where he was a student.
The first report to Sussex Police came from a woman who said Patel-Wills raped her at a property in Brighton on 31 October 2021. His arrest on suspicion of rape followed swiftly. As detectives investigated, they uncovered a pattern of abuse involving four more victims.
The court heard how one woman, in her late teens and known to Patel-Wills, was raped and sexually abused on multiple occasions in Brighton between 2018 and 2019. Another teenage victim was attacked by him in London while in what was described as a 'vulnerable state'.
Two further attacks occurred in 2020. In May 2020, he sexually assaulted a woman at a campus property. Just four months later, in September 2020, he raped another woman at his home in Brighton.
Court Verdict and Sentence
Following a trial at Lewes Crown Court, the jury convicted Patel-Wills, of Grove Road in Barnet, on multiple counts. The charges included four counts of rape, two of sexual assault, and one count of sexual assault by penetration. He was acquitted of one rape charge and one count of assault by penetration.
The judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison. He must serve 19 years in custody, with a further six years on extended licence upon his release.
Police Response and Call for Victims
Detective Constable Vicki Blythe of Sussex Police commended the courage of the women who came forward. 'I would like to express my sincere gratitude to these brave women for reporting Alex Patel-Wills’ crimes to the police and helping us put him behind bars,' she said.
DC Blythe emphasised the force's commitment to tackling such crimes: 'Every perpetrator brought to justice makes Sussex a safer place for women and girls. We are committed to supporting victims of sexual offending and doing all we can to secure the justice they deserve.'
She urged other victims to seek help, stating they can report in confidence online, via 101, or by calling 999 in an emergency.
