Amanuel Tsegay: Salford man who raped teenager and assaulted another woman on same night in Preston is jailed

A 37-year-old man has been jailed for raping an 18-year-old woman who lost her friends on a night out.

Amanuel Tsegay, of Lords Avenue, Salford, was sentenced to12 years and seven months at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday.

He admitted rape and sexual assault and was given a six-year extended licence period and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The rape victim, who was 18 at the time, was attacked by Tsegay on 22 September 2019 after she became separated from her friends on a night out in Preston city centre.

She was walking along Lancaster Road when she was approached by Tsegay at the junction of Harris Street. The court heard after a brief interaction, they walked together onto nearby Lord Street, where he raped her on a grassed area at around 4.20am.

Lancashire police detectives found Tsegay had travelled into Preston by train from Manchester several hours before the attack.

He was then seen walking around Preston city centre. Detectives viewed hours of CCTV and, following a media appeal, were also able to trace another victim, aged 19 at the time of the offence, who Tsegay had grabbed and forced himself upon on the same night.

He was arrested on 8 October, 2019 and subsequently charged with rape.

‘My life has changed’

Both women told the court how the attacks had affected them.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the rape victim said: “Before that night I was happy, I liked to meet new people and make new friends.

“I didn’t have any worries and now that has all changed.”

The victim explained the incident had left her unable to sleep properly and that she was forced to give up her job due to anxiety.

She added: “Before the attack I was quite independent. What he did has changed all that.

“I don’t feel happy and carefree like I was.

“This is always there.”

The victim of the sexual assault also told the court her sleep had been affected, she had lost her sense of independence and also felt the need to change how she dressed.

In her victim impact statement, she added: “I feel apprehensive about people coming near me and feel that I have used up all of my luck and am apprehensive and anxious when I go out of the house.”

‘Predator’

Det Insp Fiona Jackson, from Lancashire Police, said she was satisfied with Tsegay’s sentence and commended both victims for their bravery.

“It has taken over two years to reach a conclusion, mainly because of the pandemic, but they have continued to provide support for the process throughout,” she added.

“Amanuel Tsegay is a sexual predator and it is clear from CCTV footage that he was prowling around the centre of Preston looking for vulnerable women.

“I would like to thank my colleagues who worked on this investigation, painstakingly combing through hours of CCTV to find Tsegay.

“I would also like to thank the public who supported and responded to these appeals as they provided vital information.”