Appeals rejected for two men who took turns to rape drunk woman on Brighton beach

Two London men who were jailed after they took turns to rape a drunk woman on Brighton beach have failed in appeals against their convictions and sentences.

Amjad Aziz, 21, had sex with the "comatose" young woman on the south coast beach after meeting her in a club, before calling his friend, Omed Azizi, 27.

Azizi was on the scene within minutes and also had his way with the woman, who was out celebrating the end of her exams in October 2014.

Aziz, of Wetheral Drive, Stanmore, and Azizi, of Mill Hill Road, Acton, denied any wrongdoing, but were convicted at Lewes Crown Court.

In May last year, Amjad Aziz was sentenced to 13 years for rape and aiding and abetting rape, and Omed Azizi to 11 years for rape.

On Friday (June 16), they challenged their convictions, but top judges at the Court of Appeal said they had no argument against the jury's verdicts.

And the sentences which they received were deserved for their rape of the vulnerable young woman, who was not a regular drinker, but very drunk.

The crown court judge had sentenced them on the basis that there was an element of planning in the attacks.

And appeal judge Lord Justice Hickinbottom on Friday said the judge was entitled to take that view of the case.

"After hearing the evidence, the trial judge found that Aziz was not just an immature young man trying his luck and going too far," he said.

"Rather, he specifically targeted her as a drunk young woman in no position to prevent him raping her.

"He then telephoned his friend, Azizi, to come along and do the same.

"The judge said it was quite clear that that was part of an agreed plan between them if they managed to find a suitable victim.

"The judge was clearly entitled to make those findings."

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Haddon-Cave and Judge Melbourne Inman QC, said the pair's attempts to appeal their convictions were "unarguable".

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