Rapist boasted about signing for Premier League football club after attacking three women | UK | News

A sick rapist who boasted about playing for a Premier League football club has been jailed. Sahil Ali, 21, was jailed for 18 years with a further five years on license after raping three defenseless young women.

Lewes Crown Court heard how he carried out attacks in Sussex between 2022 and 2024, using violence, threats and drugs to rape his victims, the youngest of whom was just 15 years old. Ali, who signed for Brighton and Hove Albion FC as an academy player in 2013, posted a photo of himself signing for the senior team online. He also played for Millwall and Barnet.

Ali was sentenced on June 26, but the first announcement of the result of the case was postponed for legal reasons. However, now all the details can be revealed.

A judge told Ali: “You had a career as a professional footballer ahead of you and now it will disappear.” Prosecutor Beverly Cripps said British citizen Ali preyed on young women who could not care for themselves.

He added that he was arrested twice but denied all allegations against him. The first rape occurred in 2022 when Ali was 18 years old.

The 17-year-old victim told police the attack was “the most violent incident I’ve ever experienced.” He continued: “He’s a poor little boy who just wants to feel powerful.”

The court also heard that Ali’s second victim was 29 but had a much younger mental age. The vile rapist stole money from her and made revenge porn threats.

Ali raped the third victim, who was only 15, twice during violent and drug-involved attacks. He once strangled her until she couldn’t breathe, causing her to suffer flashbacks.

The victim said: “I was doing well at school. I was 15 and he was 19. I stopped going to school. My friends were asking me about the bruises. It affected everyone around me. I still have trouble sleeping and have memories of him strangling me.”

Judge Christine Laing KC told Ali: “I see no real remorse in you. Apart from the situation you now find yourself in, you fail to take responsibility for your actions, you blame porn, you blame your victims and the scorn for your behavior is quite breathtaking.”

“You appeared completely indifferent to your actions. You are still unaware of the seriousness of your offending.

“Your own moral compass is clearly skewed. You had a career as a professional footballer ahead of you and now it will be lost.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbor said: “Ali preyed on vulnerable young girls, making demands of them and using violence to get them to comply.

“The case had a profound impact on the three victims and I commend them for their courage in coming forward and reporting their experiences to police.

“We take reports of rape and sexual assault extremely seriously and encourage anyone affected by these crimes to come to us and report what happened. Following a trial, Ali was found guilty of these offenses and is now serving a significant prison sentence.”

As well as the prison sentence, Ali was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This restricts access to children and computer equipment.

A spokesman for Barnet FC said: “We have thousands of players registered through third party training organisations.

“We do not always have direct contact with these players and any contact is normally limited to coaching and football development.”

Brighton and Hove Albion FC declined to comment.

Millwall FC have been approached for comment.