Police described Alex Patel-Wells as a “committed sex offender”
An ex-University of Sussex student from Barnet has been found guilty of raping or sexually assaulting five women, including four fellow students. Alex Patel-Wells, 26, of Grove Road, attacked his victims over four years, beginning when he was a teenager.
Sussex Police launched an investigation after a woman reported being raped at a house in October 2021. Patel-Wells was arrested soon after, and further enquiries identified four further victims spanning from 2018 to 2021.
The attacks took place at properties on campus, as well as in London and Brighton more widely. One young woman was raped whilst in a “vulnerable state”, police say.
Patel-Wells was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault by penetration and five counts of rape, and remanded in custody. He appeared at Lewes Crown Court yesterday (October 16), where a jury found him guilty of offences relating to every victim, namely four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration.
He was found not guilty of one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration. Detective Constable Vicki Blythe described Patel-Wells as a “committed sexual offender”.
“Each of these brave women has shown incredible courage to report and support this investigation,” she said, “Thanks to their help, a predatory offender has been convicted and will now face a significant prison sentence.”
A statement issued by the University of Sussex reads: “We are committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment on our campus and we take seriously any reports of sexual misconduct. Our safeguarding policies, reporting routes and preventative education programmes are continuously reviewed and improved.”
“Our thoughts are with the victims-survivors and we commend their courage and bravery in seeking justice in relation to such disturbing and traumatic matters.”
Patel-Wells is due to be sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, December 19.
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