In North London, a university student has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against multiple women. Alex Patel-Wills, 26, residing on Grove Road in Barnet, committed these heinous acts against five victims, among whom were four fellow students.
The investigation into Patel-Wills began after a woman reported that she had been raped in Brighton on October 31, 2021. He was subsequently apprehended on suspicion of the crime. Further inquiries revealed four additional victims, all assaulted by him between 2018 and 2021. Notably, another woman disclosed that she had been raped and sexually abused by Patel-Wills multiple times in Brighton during 2018 and 2019. Concurrently, he raped another victim in London while she was in a vulnerable state. Two more survivors came forward, alleging that they had been raped by him in 2020.
Criminal Charges and Verdict
In May 2020, Patel-Wills sexually assaulted a woman at a property on the university campus, and subsequently, four months later, he raped another woman at his residence in Brighton. He faced five counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of assault by penetration, and was remanded in custody following his charges.
On October 16 at Lewes Crown Court, a jury found Patel-Wills guilty on all counts related to his victims, which included four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration. He was acquitted of one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration. Patel-Wills will serve 19 years in prison followed by six years on extended license.
Police Response
Detective Constable Vicki Blythe expressed appreciation for the women who reported Patel-Wills’ crimes, stating, „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. Every perpetrator brought to justice makes Sussex a safer place for women and girls, and we will continue to work hard to prevent offending, hold offenders to account and support victims.“ She emphasized Sussex Police’s commitment to supporting victims of sexual crimes and ensuring they receive the justice they deserve. Victims are encouraged to report incidents in confidence through various means, including online communication, dialing 101, or calling 999 in emergencies.
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