Sahil Ali, 21, formerly of West Sussex, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to 18 years in prison, with an additional five years on licence, after being found guilty of seven counts of rape, one count of intentional strangulation, and one count of sexual assault by penetration.
The offences took place between 2022 and 2024. During this time, Ali targeted vulnerable teenage girls through social media, arranging to meet them before using violence and threats to carry out the attacks, often in his car. His crimes left lasting emotional trauma for the victims, who bravely came forward to report what had happened.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbour said Ali had “preyed on vulnerable teenage girls, making demands on them and using violence to make them comply.” He praised the victims for their courage in speaking out and urged others affected by sexual violence to seek help.
Ali will serve at least two-thirds of his prison term before being eligible for parole. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to children and computer devices.
Police have encouraged anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault to contact them or seek confidential support from specialist services.
The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of reporting abuse. The lengthy sentence reflects the severity of Ali’s crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the public.
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