There's been several previous reports on this, but hadn't picked up on it because they hadn't been using the t-word. The nitty gritty's all here, though
Three-door Fiesta
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
But with the ongoing Brum trial report, that's the second one today about a very similar incident
'Prowling' kidnapper and rapist 'lured vulnerable victim into his car' after Plymouth night outhttps://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/p ... le-8015519Lead investigator said kidnap and rape of gay woman was a "truly horrendous and disturbing crime" after jury finds Yuseab Woldeab guilty
Image: Devon & Cornwall Police/Plymouth HeraldDetectives who investigated the kidnap and double rape of a young gay woman at a property in Plymouth have said the perpetrator had been "prowling the streets looking for a victim" to what was "a truly horrendous and disturbing crime".
The jury at Plymouth Crown Court took around two hours of deliberation before finding 28-year-old Yuseab Woldeab guilty by a unanimous verdict of kidnaping the young woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - before he then vaginally and anally raped her at his multi-occupancy home in Wilton Street, Millbridge.
During the trial the court heard how the woman, who is in her 20s, had been in a same-sex relationship for around a year, had known she was gay from a young age and had never been to bed or slept with a man in her entire life. However, Woldeab had tried to convince police that he had been approached by the woman as he drove up to her in Union Street in the early hours of the morning last April. He claimed she had called out to him, asked him his age, told him her age, asked him his plans for the night, said she wanted to go back to his place and that he was her "type" - all in just a few seconds before she got into his three door white Ford Fiesta car.
However, during police interviews - where she frequently broke down sobbing - and during cross-examination in court, the woman stuck to her version of events. She said she had gone out with two friends, had had drinks at a number of venues including the Dog and Duck pub, Revolutions and Popworld before heading to a pizza shop on Union Street in the early hours.
She admitted she was so intoxicated, the following morning she was convinced she had one of her drinks "spiked". However, despite much of the latter part of her night being hazy, she recalled the driver of the small white car called out "taxi" to her and that when she got into the front seat she thought the vehicle was much smaller than most taxis she had been in.
CCTV footage played in court showed the woman was at the passenger window of his car - parked on the pelican crossing in front of the Palace Theatre - for just six seconds before she got into the vehicle and Woldeab drove off so quickly that the passenger door was still open. The jury had also seen CCTV footage of Woldeab at the Revolution venue the same time the woman was at the club - although they did not interact or speak to each other - before he headed to Claremont Street on foot to collect his car before driving it into the city centre, along Union Street to Colin Campbell Court car park where he briefly stopped before heading back down Union Street and into Octagon Street.
Woldeab claimed he had wanted to get cigarettes at a convenience store on Union Street but it was closed, but CCTV footage noted that having already passed it once, he then returned and braked beside it, just as the woman was walking along at the same location.
Woldeab was then seen to park in Octagon Street for a few seconds - just as the woman crossed the road over Octagon roundabout and continued up Union Street, before he then turned around and followed her at slow speed, stopping right next to her.
Once he got her back to Wilton Street he ushered her inside and within minutes had taken down her clothing and raped her. He told police the sex act was consensual. He also insisted that he had not had anal sex with her.
The woman told police she recalled suffering great pain and said "all I remember is pain". She told the officer she remembered "feeling a bit paralysed", but. when Woldeab went to the toilet she fled the building.
The jury heard from a series of professional and expert witnesses, including a senior forensic scientist who confirmed that following an intimate examination at the Plymouth Sexual Assault Referral Centre, DNA and sperm linked directly to Woldeab was found inside the woman.
Woldeab, who court heard was an refugee from Eritrea who had been in the country for several years, was assisted through the court hearings by a interpreter speaking Tigrinya - a language spoken in Eritrea and Ethiopia. The 28-year-old stood impassive when the foreman of the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts to the two counts of rape and count of kidnap. A cry of "yes" went up from the public gallery where a number of the woman's supporters had sat during the trial - as had Woldeab's supporters.
Despite Woldeab being described in court as a man of good character, having never been arrested, charged, cautioned or even warned, Judge Peter Johnson said a pre-sentence report was necessary as the "issue of dangerousness had to be assessed", adding that this would be done "to see if you [Woldeab] pose a significant risk of serious harm" to the public.
Judge Johnson went on to suggest that there would be a sentencing hearing in the next three weeks, but certainly before the end of the month. He commended the investigators and praised the "dignified way" those in the public gallery had behaved.
Senior Investigating Officer Det Sgt Chris Kinski, of Plymouth police's Sexual Offences Investigation Team said following the guilty verdict: "This was a truly horrendous and disturbing crime.
"Woldeab could see that the victim was vulnerable as she was heavily intoxicated. He used this entirely to his advantage when approaching her that night. We believe he had been prowling the streets looking for a victim prior to spotting her.
"He told the victim he was a taxi driver whilst she was on her own, luring her into his vehicle with the intention of committing sexual offences against the victim. He has taken the vulnerable victim back to his address and raped her. At the first chance she escaped and reported this to the police.
"I wish to thank the victim for her incredible bravery in coming forward and reporting this to us. We know that this was no easy task and that she was fearful of not being believed, however, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and are wholeheartedly committed to supporting survivors of sexual abuse.
"I have no doubt that what happened that night will stay with the victim forever. I hope this sentencing can provide her with some sense of closure so that she can move on with the same courage and determination that she has shown throughout this process.
"We would urge anyone suffering in silence to come forward. As this case shows, you will be believed and supported and together we will hold offenders to account for their crimes."
If you require help or assistance relating to sexual abuse, please look at the below list of helplines.
• National Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 802 9999
• Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC): 0300 3034626
• Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Independent Sexual Advisor Service: 03458 121212
• Victim Care Unit: 01392 475900
• Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services: 01392 204 174
In an emergency, always call 999 and in a non-emergency please visit
http://www.dc.police.uk/contact .
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