MERON GEBRU'S SHOCKING ATTACK IN NEWTOWN: SEXUAL ASSAULT AT SMETHWICK FLATS

A disturbing incident unfolded at a residential block in Smethwick, where a 74-year-old woman was subjected to a frightening assault by a man who deceived her and then committed a series of invasive acts. The perpetrator, identified as Meron Gebru, aged 26 and residing at Tibet Tower in Newtown, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison.

On the evening of August 20, 2017, the elderly woman, who lived alone in her flat, was expecting a visit from a male relative. As she responded to her intercom, she looked outside and saw a man standing approximately two meters away from her door. The man, later identified as Gebru, appeared to be in a state of intoxication. He raised his hands together in a gesture resembling prayer and pleaded for help, repeatedly saying, "please, please, please." Believing that he was in distress and needed assistance, the woman approached him cautiously. However, her concern was met with an unsettling gesture as Gebru suddenly kissed her on the lips, causing her to instinctively step back in shock.

Without warning, Gebru moved towards her door, forcibly pushed it open, and entered her flat despite her protests and attempts to deter him. She explained to him that her husband would be returning soon, hoping that this would intimidate him into leaving. Instead, Gebru continued his disturbing behavior by turning around and exposing himself to her. The woman, frightened and overwhelmed, managed to shut him out of her flat and contacted a neighbor for help. Within moments, she heard her buzzer again, mistakenly believing it was her relative returning. When she opened the door, she was confronted once more by Gebru, who had returned. She quickly shut the door and called the police for assistance.

Authorities later reviewed CCTV footage that revealed Gebru’s suspicious activities around the block prior to the incident. The footage showed him following another resident and peering through windows, indicating a pattern of unsettling behavior. During the assault, Gebru also showed the victim his mobile phone, which she did not recognize, adding to her confusion and fear. After the incident, Gebru left the scene but was later identified and located. In June 2018, he voluntarily attended a police station after his brother informed him that footage of him had been circulated.

The court acknowledged the profound impact the assault had on the victim, noting that she now feels afraid to leave her home and has increased her security measures. The judge described the offense as having “worrying features,” emphasizing Gebru’s return to the victim’s flat and his unwarranted following of other residents in the area. During the hearing, Simon Hanns, representing Gebru, stated that his client, who came to the UK as a refugee from Eritrea in 2012 and is a father of two, had limited memory of the events due to being intoxicated at the time. Despite this, the court deemed his actions to constitute a serious sexual assault, leading to the 18-month prison sentence.