Search results for Norwich

Description

A man has been found guilty of multiple child sexual offences against three victims following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

Robert Wilson, 42, c/o HMP Norwich, appeared before the court today (16 September 2026) where he was convicted of 28 offences, including multiple rapes, sexual assaults by penetration, sexual assaults, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and child cruelty and battery.

Wilson denied the offences, but following a trial lasting 11 days, a jury convicted him after hearing evidence from the victims and witnesses.

The offences were committed over a prolonged period spanning more than two decades and involved three victims who were all children when the abuse began.

The court heard how Wilson subjected one victim to years of sexual abuse, beginning when she was a young child. He repeatedly sought opportunities to isolate her before carrying out sexual assaults and exposing himself to her. As she grew older, the abuse escalated and continued into her teenage years.

The victim also described repeated physical assaults and increasingly controlling and intimidating behaviour.

A second victim told the court she was abused by Wilson from childhood. His offending included sexual assaults and rape over a number of years, often taking advantage of situations where she was alone with him.

The court heard that Wilson used manipulation, coercion and violence to maintain control, despite the victim's attempts to resist and tell him to stop.

A third victim described years of abuse beginning in childhood. Wilson repeatedly sexually assaulted and attempted to rape her over a significant period of time, using threats and intimidation to prevent her from disclosing what was happening.

All three victims described fearing for their safety. The court heard how Wilson abused his position as an adult to gain access to the children, exploit their trust and exert control over them while they were vulnerable and unable to challenge his behaviour.

Detective Constable Ellie Brown said:

"This outcome is a testament to the courage and resilience shown by the victims, who came forward to report years of abuse and gave evidence throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

"Wilson abused his position as an adult to manipulate, control and exploit children for his own gratification, leaving the victims fearful and causing lasting harm.

"Throughout our investigation, officers worked closely with the victims to support them through what has been an extremely difficult process. We assisted them throughout the criminal justice process and helped them give their evidence in court using special measures.

"Their bravery has ensured a dangerous offender has been held accountable for his actions.

"We know that sexual abuse can have a profound and lifelong impact. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no matter how much time has passed, we will listen, we will investigate and we will do everything we can to bring offenders before the courts.

"If you have been a victim of abuse, or have concerns about someone you know, please come forward and speak to us."

Description

Convicted sex offender faces new child sex charges

Jake Robertson, a convicted sex offender already serving a prison sentence, is facing 10 further child sex allegations involving communication with children, indecent images and threats.

The 25-year-old, of Station Road, Aylsham, appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court by video link from HMP Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire, where he is serving a seven-year, three-month extended sentence.

Prosecutors allege he told a girl from Wisbech he would share intimate photographs of her, with threats said to have been made between September and November 2024. He is also accused of making violent threats to the same youngster in 2023 and 2024, harassing a second girl from Wisbech, and grooming a child from Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex.

Robertson did not enter pleas to two charges of engaging in sexual communication with a child, two of harassment, and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He is further accused of making 49 category A, 12 category B and 144 category C indecent images of children.

The case was sent to Norwich Crown Court. A preliminary hearing is listed for 2 October.

These are allegations. Robertson has not yet entered pleas to the new charges and has not been convicted of them.

Description

A woman who was raped by a man in Norwich says she feels she has finally found justice after her attacker was jailed for seven years. He was also issued with an indefinite restraining order. 

Monwar Hussain, aged 29, of Marauder Road, Norwich was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today (Friday 24 July 2026) after previously being convicted of two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of assault by penetration.

It follows an incident on 13 March 2020 when the victim had been on a night out with friends in Norwich and ended up at a house party. When she became became unwell, her friends called her a taxi and a man who had also been at the party offered to share the taxi home.

The victim woke up the next morning to find the man raping her. 

The suspect was later identified as Monwar Hussain, also known as Rak, and in August 2024 he was charged. Hussain denied any wrongdoing but following a trial at Norwich Crown Court in April 2026 a jury found him guilty of all four charges.

In a statement read in court the victim told how the attack had had "a serious and profoundly negative impact on her.

She said:

"In the days, weeks and months that followed, I suffered with anxiety and struggled to sleep due to what he had done.

"I have a close-knit group of friends that I am lucky to have but my trust in other people and in forming new relationships has been irreparably damaged. I have found building any new relationships extremely challenging.

"The weeks that followed giving evidence in court were incredibly difficult for me. I am though, extremely proud that I was able to give evidence and explain what had happened to me in a court of law.

“I hope more people can find justice like I have done. I had incredible support from my friends throughout the process. I know that, when you know you have done nothing wrong, the process is a sad and lonely one. I hope that more people find the support to be able to stand up and get justice when incidents such as these occur."

Following sentencing investigating officer Detective Constable Matthew Hubbard said:

"I hope today’s outcome will give the victim some sense that justice has been done. I do not for a moment underestimate the courage it took not only to report what had happened but also to continue to support what was a lengthy and complex investigation and trial process.

"Thanks to this woman’s bravery and the evidence she gave, Hussain is now behind bars and I hope this will give other victims of rape and sexual assault the strength to come forward in the knowledge that we will support them and hold perpetrators to account."

Description

A man who secretly filmed women through the windows of their homes has been jailed for more than two and a half years.

Jake Austin, age 31, of Ipswich Road, Norwich was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 July) after previously admitting five counts of voyeurism, three counts of upskirting and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Austin was first arrested in March 2024 when a woman in Norwich reported seeing him on CCTV footage looking through the window of her ground floor bedroom window.  Officers attended and arrested him nearby to the victim’s address and seized his mobile device. When this and other electronic devices were examined, detectives found hours and hours of voyeuristic videos. Some -  filmed from the street- showed women getting dressed and undressed in their homes. Others - recorded in supermarkets, pubs and in the street -  were filmed up women's skirts.

Detectives were able to identify six of the other victims and let them know what had happened, but some women in the videos were never identified.

Further downloads from Austin's computer also showed a number of indecent images of children.

In court he was sentenced to 31 months imprisonment and placed on the sex offenders register for life. He was also issued with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

In statements read in court some of Austin's victims described the effect his offending had had on them.

One woman said:

"This was a significant violation of my privacy and the comfort I should feel in my own home. This experience has made me much more guarded around strangers"

Another added:

"It is a very strange feeling knowing that someone has been watching you without your knowledge. The fact that he decided to film me made me feel even more disturbed". 

And a third said she felt "vulnerable" when she was told she had been secretly filmed.

"When the officer told me, I was still breastfeeding my young daughter and this made me worried about a completely normal act and if strangers might use it for their own personal gain to take photos. It gave me a lot of anxiety."

Following sentencing investigating officer Detective Constable Matthew Hubbard said:

"Austin's offending represented a serious and sustained pattern of predatory behaviour. He deliberately targeted women who were completely unaware they were being filmed and did so both in public and in the privacy of their own homes without their knowledge or consent.

"He violated their privacy and I know that these crimes have had a profound impact on them.

"I would like to thank the women who had the courage to come forward and report these crimes, as well as everyone who supported the investigation. Their courage and bravery has resulted in this outcome.

"We would always encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences this kind of behaviour to report it to the police. Vouyerism and upskirting can sometimes indicate escalating behaviour so reporting it allows us to build intelligence and work to intervene to prevent further harm."

Description

A sex offender was found with indecent images of children after failing to comply with notification requirements.

Craig Stewart, 33, of Dalryple Way in Norwich, was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years in 2016 after convictions for using an anonymous online chat site to groom and film young girls, and possessing hundreds of images and videos, some secretly recorded. He must update police annually on personal details, including his whereabouts.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard that officers visited his home after he missed the July deadline last year, seizing devices where downloaded photos of children (categories B and C) were discovered.

Stewart pleaded guilty to the non-compliance and possession charges. He will be sentenced on May 13.

The court was told he was undergoing a personal crisis and is working with support organization Stop It Now to address his ‘addiction’ to viewing photos.

Description

A woman raped by Norfolk cafe owner Andrew Hubbard has said her life has been “completely overshadowed” by the ordeal.

In a victim impact statement read at his sentencing, the woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said her life had been “completely overshadowed by anxiety and fear”. She feels “constantly in fear” and that “danger lurks around every corner”. The thought of seeing Hubbard or members of his family “terrifies” her. She is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), describing every day as a “battle for survival”. She is afraid to go out, “struggles to cope with everyday life” and says the offences have “robbed me of my freedom”.

Hubbard, 34, who previously owned Lily Mai’s (formerly Craft Burger) in Cromer’s New Street, was jailed for eight years at Norwich Crown Court on Friday for rape and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The court heard he entered the victim’s bedroom with his genitals exposed and orally raped her. The woman said she only complied because she was “so scared at that time”.

He was convicted after a trial that began in late September last year. Jurors deliberated for more than 11 hours before finding him guilty. He was cleared of a second rape, kidnap, voyeurism and escape from lawful custody.

Judge Anthony Bate said Hubbard’s conduct had a “profound” impact on the “vulnerable” victim.

Defence barrister Paul Mylvaganam said Hubbard intends to appeal his conviction but has apologised to the victim and expressed remorse. He described his client as a “successful businessman” who had tried to support his family from the “remnants” of his businesses. Sentencing was adjourned from December after Hubbard instructed a new barrister.

Hubbard, formerly of Hannah Close, Sheringham, and now of St Mary’s Close, Roughton, was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Police investigated after the victim’s identity was circulated online, breaching her lifelong anonymity. Judge Bate had urged Norfolk’s chief constable to launch a probe. The investigation has now closed.

A force spokesman said: “Following digital enquiries, no suspect could be identified as the original social media post, and associated meta data, is no longer available.” Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Description

A convicted sex offender was arrested after arranging to meet a girl in Norwich for sex, a court has heard.

Andrew Ryan had been communicating online with what he thought was an 11-year-old girl, but it was actually an undercover police officer.

Norwich Crown Court heard the 42-year-old—who pretended to be 18—first contacted her in summer 2023.

Prosecutor Chris Youell said Ryan, formerly surnamed Morton, engaged in sexual chats, including sending images of his genitals.

He described the "most serious offence" as attempting to meet her for sex.

Mr. Youell said Ryan—who has prior child sex convictions—arranged the meeting at Norwich Railway Station on September 22, 2023, with a suggestion of going to a hotel.

After his arrest, police found indecent images—categories A (most serious), B, and C—on his phone.

Ryan, in breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), appeared for sentencing Monday after admitting attempted sexual communication with a child under 16 and attempting to cause a child to view a sexual image.

Ryan, of Thistledown Road, Horsford, also admitted attempting to meet a child under 16 for sexual activity, plus three counts of making indecent images of children.

Judge Andrew Shaw imposed an extended seven-year sentence—four years' imprisonment and three on licence—calling Ryan a "dangerous" offender.

Mitigating, Rob Pollington said Ryan was "an individual that has without a shadow of a doubt a preoccupation with young persons."

He added the defendant had been "very open" and "candid" about his issues, followed a "self-destructive course of behaviour," and was "remorseful."

Ryan was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and given a lifetime SHPO.

Description

A paedophile with a nappy fetish has been jailed for a horrific sexual assault on a toddler.

Ashley Carter - who has a string of previous convictions related to his sexual fascination with nappies - carried out the attack at a hotel in Norwich.

Norwich Crown Court heard the 35-year-old filmed the incident in a bathroom at the Travelodge on Queen's Road.

The footage showed Carter, who was naked, shove a soiled nappy in the face of the child, who became distraught.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, said the assault was deemed to be sexual because of Carter's known sexual fetish involving nappies.

Carter, of no fixed address, has seven convictions for 10 previous offences, including two indecent exposures and two offences of outraging public decency, one of which involved him playing with himself while holding a nappy.

At the time of the assault, in November 2023, the child had been left at the hotel with Carter by the victim's mother.

After police were informed Carter was arrested and found to have 29 indecent images of children on his phone, including two category A, the most serious.

Carter received a 60 month prison sentence when he appeared at court earlier this month after admitting sexual assault on a child under 13 as well as the images offences.

A statement from the victim's mother- described how she felt "numb" as a result of what happened.

Rob Pollintgon, representing Carter, said there was nothing he could say to mitigate the offence apart from that the defendant entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.

The barrister said it was an "appalling" offence and one that Carter was ashamed of and disgusted with.

Detective Constable Paul Atkinson from the Safeguarding Children Online Team (SCOLT), described Carter as a "repeat sexual offender and predator".

Carter was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 15 years and put on the sex offenders' register, also for 15 years.

He was also banned from contacting either mother or victim, directly or indirectly, for 10 years.

Description

A paedophile stored dozens of horrific images on his phone, including one of a man having sex with a woman's headless body, a court has heard.

Police found the trove on Lee Hull's device after he was arrested for trying to groom children via phone messages.

Among other images discovered was one of a woman being hanged and another of a hanged woman in her underwear with a breast exposed.

In total, officers found more than 200 indecent images on his handset.

Hull appeared at Norwich Crown Court this week where he was jailed for 32 months for a string of sexual offences.

The hearing was told he was arrested by police after being caught in a sting operation by a paedophile hunter group.

The 54-year-old, of Sussex Street, Norwich, had been communicating online with members of the group, believing they were nine girls all aged between 12 and 14.

The child protection group then went to his city address to confront him, before calling police.

Officers then seized his phone, where they found the images as well as chats and exchanges with the decoys over the course of four months, from December 2022 to March 2023.

Ian James, prosecuting, said Hull had started with innocent chats which were "preparatory to making sexual advances".

He said Hull, who stayed "silent" about his age, sent images of pets and cars in an attempt to groom his targets.

He then sent pictures and videos of male genitals as well as "graphic chat" involving what he wanted to do sexually to the girls.

Of the 200 indecent images on his phone, 62 were category A - the most serious.

Mr James said the youngest victim depicted in the images appeared to be around 18 months old with the youngest victim of the category A images understood to be three.

Hull admitted nine counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, two counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and three offences of making indecent images of children as well as possessing extreme pornographic images.

Judge Andrew Shaw said he was a dangerous offender who posed a risk to the public.
"It doesn't really matter that the people who you were attempting to contact weren't in fact children," he said.

"The details of what you said to them and what you wanted them to do are frankly disgusting."

Stephen Spence, mitigating, said Hull was a "sad and isolated" individual and had been "seeking to engage his fantasies" in the messages he had sent.

Hull was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A sexual 'predator' used a mobile phone to taking intimate upskirting photos of unsuspecting women and girls in Norfolk pubs, a court has heard.

Andrew Bird also used a dog as a way to get pictures, either by taking them when he bent down to stroke the animals or when his victims did so.

Others were targeted in parks or even in homes where he managed to plant recording devices.

Norwich Crown Court was told the 55-year-old had photographed or videoed at 16 victims - none of who can be identified for legal reasons - over a five year period.

Samantha Lowther, prosecuting, said a number of victims were recorded at the White Horse, in Trowse, and the Black Swan, at Horsham St Faith.

She said Bird, a former Anglian Water engineer, would hold his phone under a table and angle it upwards as women came over to speak to him to capture images of their genitals, buttocks and underwear.

Other victims, including teenage girls, were targeted at various locations including Trowse Common, opposite the White Horse, with Bird taking photos up skirts or loose-fitting shorts.

Another child victim had videos of her taken by Bird while she was getting changed in her bedroom.

And on another occasion Bird planted a video in a caravan which was used to capture footage of a woman as she showered and dressed.

Miss Lowther said the images were discovered after police went to Bird's address in 2023 on an unrelated matter.

Officers found he had backed up images and videos taken on his phone to various hard drives and seized a number of devices.

Bird, formerly of Trowse but now of Scotch Hill, Taverham, appeared in court on Monday after admitting 41 offences.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of voyeurism, or observing a person doing a private act and 17 offences of upskirting or recording images under clothing to observe another without consent.

Bird also admitted 18 offences of attempted upskirting, or operating equipment under clothing of another without consent

He also admitted three offences of making indecent images of children.

Bird has also asked for 20 further offences - between 2018 and 2022 - to be taken into consideration, including six outraging public decency offences, seven attempted upskirting offences and seven upskirting offences.

Jailing Bird for 22 months, Judge Jeremy Donne said no female was "safe from you" with the victims in his offending "ranging from 12 to middle aged".
"You went nowhere without that mobile phone ready to take photographs," he said.

Judge Donne said Bird "knew what he was doing" as once he had recorded images on his mobile phone he downloaded them onto hard drives for his own sexual gratification before deleting them.

Before Bird was sentenced the court heard statements from some of the victims in the case who described the suffering the defendant had caused them.

An adult victim whose daughter was also a victim of Bird's said she had been "devastated" to find out what had happened.

She said her family and her children were her "world" and said it was "sickening" what happened. 

Another adult victim said Bird had "abused trust" and "stole innocence" as a result of which she now has to "look over my shoulder" when she goes out.

She said he had committed the offences in "the most devious, deceitful and calculated" way.

Another adult victim said what had happened to her would "be with me forever".

Another victim described how she feels "violated" and the crimes have had "consequences on every party of my life".

Another victim and the mother of another victim - who was 12 and 13 at the time - said she felt "sickened and violated" by what had happened as a result of the actions of this "predator".

Her daughter, now 15, said she had been "completely oblivious" to what was happening and was "shocked".

The husband and father of two victims said the offender had "destroyed lives" and said he had abused his liberty for his twisted and sickening pleasure".

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said Bird was entitled to full credit for his guilty pleas.

He said he admitted to police there was "voyeuristic" material present on items seized and he was responsible for it. 

Mr Oliver accepted the impact on each victim had been "profound" and he had caused harm to the victims, their families and friends. 

He said Bird, a father of two, whose own daughter now does not speak to him, sold the family home and moved in with his mother.

He had reduced his alcohol intake and accepted he had sexual gratification from the offences. 

Bird was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and put on the sex offender's register, also for 10 years.

Description

A registered sex offender with 99 previous offences has appeared in court for not informing police of his whereabouts.

Paddy Mutch, 37, was jailed in January 2024 for sexually assaulting a woman in Norwich who he had threatened with a knife.

Sentenced to 15 months at Norwich Crown Court he was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard he had been arrested on June 16 after failing to reveal where was living within three days of his release from prison. 

He had just been released after serving an 18 week sentence for similar breaches. 

Mutch pleaded guilty to failure to comply with the notification requirements.

Natasha Baker, mitigating, said he had faced a “revolving door” of short prison sentences because he had been living rough and that police were “well aware of his whereabouts”.  

She said he now had a permanent place to stay and that being sent back to prison would risk treatment needed for facial injuries suffered in a stabbing.

Magistrates told him the “onus is on you to comply with the requirements whether you think the police know where you are or not”. 

They said they had been “just persuaded” to suspend a sentence of 30 days imprisonment for six months by his need for medical treatment. 

“It’s very important that you comply from now on. If you don't, there will be no escaping jail from now on,” they warned. 

A prolific offender, Mutch has 46 previous convictions for 99 offences including thefts, burglary and shoplifting.

His sexual offence came when he visited the home of a woman he knew at 4am in June 2023 and demanded to be let in. 

Once inside he attacked her, pushing her onto the bed and trying to remove her trousers before sexually assaulting her. 

Description

A convicted sex offender has been jailed after police discovered horrific images of child abuse on his mobile phone.

Matthew Rout, who had previously been convicted of making indecent images of children in 2017, got involved with conversations with others paedophiles on the KIK online platform.

Norwich Crown Court heard the 39-year-old told them he had previously had sex with young girls and shared a video of a one-year-old being raped.

Hollie Davies-Regan, prosecuting, said police became aware of indecent images being uploaded to the internet via an account linked to Rout.

Police attended his address and seized 17 devices, including a Samsung mobile phone on which indecent images and videos were found. 

They included 373 still images and 151 videos at category A - the most serious - 307 category B images and 28 videos and 278 category C images and 18 videos. 

Miss Davies-Regan said Rout also distributed indecent images and videos in 13 separate conversations he had with other users.

He stated to those he was having conversations with he was "interested" in children aged 0 to eight with "no limits at all".

He also stated an interest in "raping young boys" as well as dogs and young children. 

Rout, of Ferry Road, Heckingham, near Loddon appeared at court for sentencing on Tuesday.

He had previously admitted five counts of making indecent photos of a child and five offences of distributing indecent photos of a child.

He also admitted possession of extreme pornographic images.  

Jailing Rout for 32 months, Judge Alice Robinson said of "significant concern" was his claims he had "sexually abused" young girls in the past and his encouragement of others to "rape children".

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said Rout's strongest mitigation was his guilty pleas.

He said Rout became invoked in "fantasy chat" which was "utterly morally repugnant" although there was no evidence he had been involved in any contact offences with children. 

The barrister said Rout was "totally disgusted by his conduct".

Rout was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life and also put on the sex offenders register for life. 

Description

A man in his 60s who made one of his victims feel “less than human” has been jailed for multiple sexual offences against boys.

Martin Daniels, aged 66, of North Walsham Road, Banningham, appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Friday 2 May 2025 after pleading guilty to 17 offences against three child victims.

The offences all took place in Norfolk between 1980 and 1994.

He was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison with an additional one year on licence.

One of the victims reported the abuse to police in February 2022.  An investigation was launched and Daniels was subsequently arrested and charged.

Statements from the victims read to the court detailed the impact of the abuse.

One of the victims spoke about how Daniels’ offending made him feel “less than human” and how the psychological effects of Daniels’ abuse had “forever altered” his life.

Another spoke about how Daniels' actions impacted every aspect of their life, from forming loving relationships, to making friends, and to progressing in their career.

The statement went on to describe how Daniels had manipulated them into trusting him and believing he cared about them.

Another spoke directly to Daniels saying:

“The damage you’ve caused spreads like tentacles through so many aspects of our lives.

“You made me suspicious of people and cynical beyond my years.

“I hope one day you’re able to reflect on your actions. There was no excuse, there could be no consent.”

Detective Constable Joseph McLoughlin said:

“I would like to thank the three victims in this case who have had the immense courage to come forward after so many years.

“Daniels’ offending was truly shocking and some of the worst abuse imaginable.

“Due to their bravery a prolific sexual offender is now behind bars.

“Daniels’ offending robbed them of their childhoods and has caused unbelievable suffering for them and their families.

“While today will not undo the pain of the past, I hope the sentence Daniels has received will bring some sense of justice for the victims and their loved ones.

“To anyone else who has suffered sexual abuse please do come forward and report it to us, no matter when it happened. You will be supported."

Description

An asylum seeker who arrived in the country on a small boat raped a woman in the centre of Norwich after she left a nightclub.

Dan Tesfalul, an Eritrean who has been in the UK since 2022, attacked his victim on Rose Lane before running off when challenged by a security guard.

He was initially charged with raping the woman three times on the same occasion.

However, after he pleaded guilty to one charge, prosecutors agreed to let the other two counts lie on file.

Appearing at Norwich Crown Court yesterday, he was jailed for eight years and three months.

His sentencing came on the day Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, announced plans she said would make it harder for asylum seekers convicted of sex offences to stay in the UK.

The court was told that Tesfalul had left Eritrea seven years ago and arrived by boat in the UK in 2022.

The war-torn country, in the Horn of Africa, is home to just 3.6 million people but Eritreans have made up the fourth-largest group of asylum seekers in the UK in recent years.

As an asylum seeker, Tesfalul - who had been studying for a psychology degree in his home country - was granted leave to remain in November 2023.

At the time of the attack, in May 2024, he had been staying at the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, one of two hotels in Norwich used by the Home Office as a temporary home for those seeking asylum.

He had been drinking in Norwich city centre on the evening of May 2, 2024, when he spotted the victim in Qube nightclub, on Prince of Wales Road.

He bought drinks for the woman before she went to buy food. He also left the nightclub and approached her on nearby Mountergate.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said that although the victim was too intoxicated to remember what happened to her other witnesses saw her being raped by the 27-year-old in a grassed area near Rose Lane car park.

Mr Spence said a woman leaving the car park saw the victim on the grass with the defendant having sex with her.

The witness became concerned after she heard the woman "screaming out" and called police. 

A car park security guard also realised something was wrong and after challenging Tesfalul the defendant pulled up his trousers and ran off.

Mr Spence said he was arrested in Whitefriars a short while later.

Sentencing Tesfalul to an extended sentence of 13 years and five months - eight years three months custody and five years on licence - Judge Alice Robinson told him: "This was a horrific attack on a lone intoxicated female in the middle of the night resulting in a number of bruises and deep distress."

She said Tesfalul had "specifically targeted" the victim who was particularly vulnerable and unable to defend herself through drink.

The judge said he was an "extremely dangerous" offender who had demonstrated a "predatory sexual manner" toward the victim.

Before the sentencing, the victim read out a statement in which she said: "It was such a horrible attack when I was at my most vulnerable."
She said was now “scared of being out alone in case it might happen again”.

“I feel scared of men and feel they are out to get me and rape me too.

“It’s horrible to feel scared of every man you see when in the city and in the shops."

The victim also said she now "hates people touching me", keeps herself "hidden away" and just wants to "curl up into a ball".

Matthew Sorel-Cameron, mitigating, said Tesfalul knows the victim "will have to live with the consequences of his actions".

He said the defendant was deeply sorry and profoundly ashamed” to have caused the suffering she had.

Mr Sorel-Cameron said the defendant deserved credit for his plea.

The defence barrister said the alcohol the victim had taken made her vulnerable but insisted there was “insufficient evidence” to say him buying her drinks had been a “calculated” act to “make this offence easier”.

He said the defendant had “been out by chance at the same time” as the victim.

Mr Sorel-Cameron said Tesfalul, whose own father died while "crossing the Mediterranean in a boat when the defendant was four or five", had been studying software development at the time of the offence.

Speaking after the sentencing, detective constable Dave Block said: "I hope this conviction and sentence serves to re-enforce the message that in Norfolk, dedicated detectives investigate reports of sexual offences thoroughly and that courts take these matters seriously.

"I would like to commend the members of the public who intervened in this incident, the police officers who attended swiftly and professionally, and most of all the victim who has engaged with us throughout the investigation. “

Tesfalul was made the subject of a restraining order banning him for contacting the victim directly or indirectly for 15 years.

He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A Norwich man caught with more than 7,500 indecent images of children has escaped a prison sentence. 

When police seized his devices Jamie Brand was found to have 5,100 images and 11 videos in category A, the most serious. 

One video showed a baby, aged between six months and a year, being raped by an adult male in a balaclava.

The images were found on three mobiles, two laptops and an Apple MacBook. Among them there were also 2,265 category B images and 11 category B videos.

Norwich Crown Court heard police went on to find 173 category C images and eight extreme pornographic images in the 2022 raid.

Laura Kenyon, prosecuting, said images found on the seized devices featured male and female children from as young as six-months old, up to 14 or 15 years of age.

Miss Kenyon said Brand had also been conversing online with a 14-year-old boy, who the 39-year-old discussed sexual activity with. 

Brand, of Cannon Wharf, King Street, Norwich, appeared for sentence on Tuesday (April 22) having admitted causing or inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted making indecent photographs of a child and possessing extreme pornographic images.

Thomas Daniel, mitigating, said these were very serious matters.

But he said they were committed against the backdrop of Brand having suffered serious sexual abuse himself when he was younger.

He said Brand had made efforts to address his behaviour, having engaged with a therapist and psychologist.

Mr Daniel said the offences dated back to 2022, since when he had not offended.

Judge Andrew Shaw, who recognised the "very real efforts" Brand had made to address his offending, imposed a three year community order.

Brand must also complete 40 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), 200 hours of unpaid work and an accredited programme requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs, put on the sex offenders' register for five years and made the subject of a five year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).