Two Men Cleared Of Seafront Rape Allegation In Brighton

Two men have been acquitted of rape following a trial at Hove Crown Court linked to an incident near Brighton seafront.

George Ellis, 41, from Esher in Surrey, and Mark Lett, 43, of Chessington in south-west London, were found not guilty of raping a 19-year-old man after a week-long hearing.

The court was told the three men met in Brighton on 21 December 2024 after Ellis and Lett had travelled to the city for Christmas drinks and booked a hotel stay.

Jurors heard allegations that a sexual encounter took place in a seafront shelter and a nearby basement stairwell during the early hours of the morning.

The complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, alleged he had been raped.

Ellis and Lett denied the accusations throughout and maintained that the encounter was consensual.

After deliberating for 41 minutes, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on charges of rape.

The pair were also cleared of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

Separate assault charges had previously been dismissed during the course of proceedings.

Following the verdicts, both men showed visible emotion in the dock.

The case has now concluded with no convictions recorded against either defendant.