Radiet Meles, then aged 35, of West Park Road, Newport, South Wales, has been convicted of rape and assault by beating at Cardiff Crown Court after carrying out an attack on a woman during a night out.
The trial marks the second time Meles has faced Crown Court proceedings for serious sexual violence against women in Newport.
The court heard that Meles, a former soldier from Eritrea, entered the United Kingdom illegally in 2015 after traveling concealed inside the rear of a freight lorry through the Channel Tunnel.
After being held in custody for two days, Meles was transported to Newport, where he found employment working at a local car wash and an Amazon distribution warehouse.
In February 2019, Meles appeared before Cardiff Crown Court where he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for attempted rape.
The prosecution in that case outlined that on 13 August 2018, a heavily intoxicated woman attending a house party in Newport was found unconscious by attendees.
Prosecutor Heath Edwards explained that the victim awoke in the back of an ambulance to be informed by police officers that Meles had been seen engaging in sexual activity with her while she was incapacitated.
Sentencing him in 2019, Judge Christopher Vosper QC told Meles: “You saw that the victim was heavily intoxicated and, to all intents and purposes, she was unconscious. You had formed an intention to take advantage of her if you could.”
Judge Vosper further warned Meles that following his custodial sentence, he would likely be transferred to an immigration detention facility and made subject to a formal deportation order by the Home Secretary.
Despite the court’s expectation of deportation, the registered sex offender was permitted to remain in the UK following the completion of his custodial sentence, returning to live in Newport without statutory monitoring.
In March, Gwent Police initiated a fresh investigation after receiving emergency reports that Meles had attacked another woman during a night out.
Detectives charged Meles with rape and assault by beating.
Meles denied both charges, requiring the assistance of an interpreter in the Tigrinya language throughout legal proceedings.
Following a five-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court, the jury rejected his claims of innocence, delivering guilty verdicts on both counts.
The presiding judge remanded Meles in custody and adjourned proceedings, warning the defendant that he faces a substantial and lengthy custodial sentence when he appears for final sentencing in November.
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