A tourist has been jailed for 13 years for raping a 17-year-old boy in an Airbnb in Brighton after the teenager had become separated from his friends on a night out.
Rafael Nascimento, 38, approached the boy in the early hours of Sunday 10 August last year as the youngster was sitting on a bench in Dyke Road, just up from the Clock Tower.
Nascimento, also known as Rafael Nascimento-Capinan, was a Brazilian national who was visiting Brighton on holiday and had been due to fly home the next day.
He used a translation app to ask the teenager where he could buy cigarettes and managed to gain his trust before taking him to the flat in nearby Regent Hill where the attack happened.
Once there, he plied him with drink and drugs, leaving him feeling dizzy, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Nascimento was arrested the same day after the incident was promptly reported to the police at about 5am – the day before he was due to fly back home.
When police searched the Airbnb flat where Nascimento had been staying, they found a glass pipe and traces of the drugs that were found in the victim’s body.
Sussex Police said: “The 17-year-old victim was sitting on a bench in Dyke Road, Brighton, in the early morning on Sunday 10 August 2025, waiting for public transport to restart.
“The offence was quickly reported and Nascimento was arrested the same day after police intercepted him returning to the address.
“He was initially charged with one count of rape of a male and appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 12 August.
“He was later further charged with three counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity.
“He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the case was sent for trial.
“On Tuesday 2 February, the jury in the two-week trial at Lewes Crown Court found Nascimento guilty of four counts of rape and causing a person to engage in sexual activity.
“They found him not guilty of the sexual assault charges.
“Nascimento was remanded in custody to await sentencing.”
Judge Mark Van Der Zwart, the trial judge, jailed Nascimento for 13 years at Lewes Crown Court yesterday (Friday 17 April).
The CPS district crown prosecutor Daniel Harrison said: “Despite not speaking English, Rafael Nascimento did not let this stop him, instead turning to technology to start a conversation with the victim and luring him back to his property.
“This was an appalling attack on a teenage boy by an adult man and none of us can imagine the trauma the victim went through that night.
“Realising he was trapped in a locked apartment, the victim recalled how scared he was after Nascimento began to slap him and how he tried to get away from him before the attack started.
“The victim made it clear that he did not consent to sex but Nascimento continued to ply him with drugs and alcohol so that he could abuse and rape him.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe, including teenagers. I encourage anyone who has been in a similar position to come forward to report these incidents to the police.
“It is never too late to seek justice. You are not alone and there is help available.”
The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Cobbett, said; “With sentencing now complete, we want to recognise the courage and resilience the victim has shown throughout.
“Their bravery in reporting the offence promptly played a crucial role in helping us swiftly identify, locate and apprehend a dangerous predator.
“Nascimento was visiting the UK on holiday and was due to return to Brazil the day after the offence.
“Had the victim delayed reporting what happened, there is every possibility that Nascimento could have left the country before we had the chance to arrest him and bring him to justice.
“While nothing can undo the trauma the victim has experienced, we hope this sentence provides some sense of closure and helps them to continue to heal.
“Sexual offences can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, and it is vital that all victims feel able to come forward.
“Offences against men remain under-reported, often because of fear, embarrassment or stigma.
“We want victims to know they can report to us in confidence. You will be listened to, treated with respect, supported throughout and your report will be taken seriously.”
