A 36-year-old convicted rapist from Ellesmere Port has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Chester Crown Court after being found guilty by a jury of breaching his lifetime Sex Offenders Register notification requirements.
Mebrahtom Abrha, of Grace Road, Ellesmere Port, appeared for sentence on Monday 19 October 2026 following a four-day trial into breaches of statutory public protection measures.
The prosecution detailed that Abrha was convicted of rape in 2016, for which he received a 15-year custodial sentence. As an automatic statutory consequence of that conviction, Abrha was made subject to indefinite notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register under the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Among these mandatory obligations is a strict legal duty to declare all bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards, and financial instruments opened, held, or accessed to police within three days.
Abrha was released from prison on licence and placed under active community management by the Cheshire Police Sex Offenders Management Unit (SOMU) alongside the Probation Service. In April 2026, weeks into his release, public protection officers and probation teams conducted an unannounced compliance visit at his Ellesmere Port address.
During a routine examination of Abrha’s mobile phone, officers identified two separate online banking applications installed and running on the handset. A subsequent search of his person uncovered two physical bank cards corresponding to the digital accounts. A check against national police tracking systems confirmed that Abrha had failed to disclose either financial account to supervising officers.
Following his arrest, Abrha attempted to evade responsibility by claiming he did not comprehend the notification criteria due to English being his second language. He further claimed he intended to declare the accounts only after depositing funds and receiving physical cards in the post.
The prosecution rejected his explanation, presenting evidence that Abrha regularly communicated in fluent English, had previously received a detailed verbal breakdown of all notification requirements from specialist SOMU detectives, and had signed documentation confirming he understood and accepted every condition.
Abrha pleaded not guilty, requiring a four-day trial at Chester Crown Court. Following deliberations, the jury rejected his claims and convicted him of two counts of failing to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.
Passing sentence on 19 October 2026, the Crown Court judge emphasized that notification requirements exist to provide robust monitoring of serious sexual offenders and that deliberate attempts to obscure financial or digital footprints cannot be tolerated. The judge sentenced Abrha to an immediate custodial term of six months’ imprisonment.
Under standard statutory provisions, Abrha will serve his term in custody alongside any licence recall considerations stemming from his 2016 sentence.
Abrha remains subject to mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and remains permanently barred from undertaking regulated activity involving children or vulnerable adults.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all complainants and victims connected to sexual offence proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, educational facilities, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Abrha stood convicted of:
Two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register
Sentencing outcome and statutory measures:
Six months’ immediate custody
Ongoing mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Permanent barring from working with children or vulnerable adults (Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists)
Strict post-custodial statutory licence supervision conditions enforceable upon release from custody
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