A man who raped a woman after threatening her with a knife in Brighton city centre has been jailed. Philip Smith, 29, assaulted the woman in what investigators described as a “horrific ordeal” in the early hours of August 9 2025.
Smith was later stopped by officers and was found in possession of two knives in an alley near the seafront. He was also in possession of class A drugs, according to Sussex Police. The force said Smith approached the victim, a woman in her 30s, in Bartholomew Square and threatened her with a knife in order to rape her.
Smith fled the scene of the attack after being disturbed by a friend of the victim who she contacted.
After he was arrested, Smith exposed himself to two women inside Brighton Custody Centre and was remanded in custody.
Following a trial, Smith, of no fixed address, was convicted of two counts of rape and was jailed for 13 years at Hove Crown Court on Thursday.
The court was told Smith was already on court bail awaiting sentencing for a sexual assault on a woman in Brighton on August 5 2025.
He was 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.
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 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.”