An asylum seeker who raped a young woman as she walked to her boyfriend’s home in Toxteth was jailed for 10 years.
Mebrehtom Abrha, 25, was caught following a BBC Crimewatch appeal after the attack at around 6.30am on Sunday, July 19 last year.
Abrha, from Eritrea in East Africa, pursued his 21-year-old victim for 10 minutes as she headed towards Beaumont Street.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how he shoved her to the ground, ripped her dress and ignored her screams that she was a virgin.
He raped her twice before “chillingly and casually” walking away and fled the city when CCTV of the attack was released by police.
Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: “She would never have imagined in her darkest of nightmares that such an event would occur and she would lose her virginity in the manner described to this court.”
David McLachlan, prosecuting, said the victim had been out clubbing and was heading to her boyfriend’s home.
The woman, who described herself as “slightly drunk”, intended to catch a taxi but there were none around.
Mr McLachlan said she began walking the mile and a half route but ran most of the way in her heels as it was raining heavily.
She did not realise anybody was following her as she passed Crown Park and only spotted her attacker when he crept up from behind.
Mr McLachlan said: “All she remembered was ending up on the ground. She guessed she had been thrown over.
“She remembered being shocked and thinking ‘this can’t be happening’.
“She started screaming, she was shouting ‘please don’t’. She said ‘I’m a virgin, please don’t do this to me’.
“She described how he got up and walked away in a casual manner. He didn’t run away, he just walked off.”
Mebrehtom Abrha, 25, was caught following a BBC Crimewatch appeal after the attack
Mr McLachlan said Abrha did not speak during the four-minute ordeal “apart from the odd phrase ‘get a better number’.”
The victim, who was covered in dirt and suffered injuries to her back and neck, ran to her boyfriend’s home and he called police.
The woman had to undergo testing for sexually transmitted diseases, but fortunately these proved negative. She was only able to describe her attacker as black, tall and skinny.
Police watched CCTV and, spotting the rapist, traced his movements back to 4am, when he was thrown out of Modo bar in Concert Square.
He was seen drinking on his own in two bars in Slater Street, urinating against a wall in Wood Street, and following the woman near Crown Park.
His DNA did not match any known offenders and police arranged for a reconstruction to be shown on Crimewatch on October 12.
Crimewatch appeal to catch Toxteth rapist – Reconstruction Video
As a result of information received afterwards, officers arrested Abrha at his home in Dunsink Road in Aston, Birmingham.
He made no comment but a DNA sample linked him to the crime.
Abrha had been living in Egerton Road, Wavertree for a year, but fled the city after an initial Merseyside Police appeal.
He admitted two counts of rape through a Tigrinya interpreter in the dock. He has no previous convictions in this country.
The victim said the incident left her suffering sleepless nights, unable to trust others, terrified of having contracted HIV or of a further attack.
The woman said: “I felt ashamed, dirty, disgusting and unclean. I felt horrible in myself and always felt exposed, even when I was covered up.
“I couldn’t go to church for months as I was angry at God. It made me question my faith and religion and what makes it worse is it happened right next to a church.
“I love Liverpool but after this I want to get away from Liverpool. I felt after this incident it was now tarnished for me and isn’t the city I first fell in love with.”
Michael O’Brien, defending, said his client’s father had been imprisoned in Eritrea for opposing the country’s government.
He said the Abrha family lost their home, were forced to leave the city and he had to work to support his mother and sister.
Still from a Merseyside Police appeal. Police want to speak to this man in connection with a rape on Beaumont Street, Toxteth, on Sunday, 19 July 2015.
Mr O’Brien said: “He was conscripted into the army aged 18 but absconded, fled the country in conflict and entered this country in June 2014, seeking asylum. He was granted five year’s leave to remain.”
In a written letter Arbha told the court: “This was a deeply sad and unchristian act. I did a bad thing to this woman. I do recognise I left a scar on her life and all her family.
“I am very sorry for the crime I committed. From the bottom of my heart I ask forgiveness.”
Judge Aubrey said he doubted Abrha’s remorse was genuine and did not believe his claim that he did not remember the “terrifying and harrowing” attack.
He said he was seeking to minimise his actions and was a dangerous offender, who represented a significant risk to women of causing them serious harm.
The judge handed Abrha an extended sentence of 15 years.
It means he will serve at least two thirds of a 10-year custodial sentence behind bars, before serving an extended five-year period on licence.
Judge Aubrey paid tribute to the victim’s bravery, adding: “It is hoped ultimately she will come through the tunnel which she is currently travelling, but undoubtedly you have left your victim with deep psychological scars.”
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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/