A 27-year-old Eritrean man who arrived in the UK via small boat has been jailed for more than eight years after raping a woman in Norwich city centre while she was heavily intoxicated.
Dan Tesfalul, who had been living in Home Office-arranged accommodation at the Best Western Brook Hotel in Norwich, targeted his victim after following her from a nightclub in the early hours of 2 May 2024. He raped her on a patch of grass near a car park, fleeing the scene when challenged by a security guard.
Tesfalul, who had been granted leave to remain in November 2023, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to eight years and three months in prison, with an additional five years on licence. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and is banned from contacting the victim for 15 years under a restraining order.
Judge Alice Robinson called Tesfalul an “extremely dangerous” individual, stating:
“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. The predatory sexual manner in which you acted shows you specifically targeted a woman who was vulnerable and unable to defend herself.”
The victim, who bravely read out her own impact statement in court, said:
“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.”
Tesfalul, who admitted one count of rape, had initially been charged with three counts. The remaining charges will lie on file. Prosecutor Stephen Spence told the court that the victim was unable to recall the attack due to her intoxicated state, but witnesses reported hearing screams and seeing Tesfalul flee as security intervened.
A swift police response led to his arrest nearby.
The case comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced new plans to make it easier to deport asylum seekers convicted of sex offences. Currently, only those given prison terms of 12 months or more can be removed under existing asylum laws. Under the new proposal, this would extend to anyone added to the UK’s sex offenders register.
Detective Constable Dave Block of Norfolk Police praised the public’s role in aiding the investigation:
“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.”
According to court evidence, Tesfalul had studied psychology in Eritrea before fleeing the country and arriving in the UK. At the time of the offence, he was reportedly studying software development.
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
