MAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THE ATTEMPTED RAPE OF A WOMAN IN PORTSMOUTH
A man working as a Deliveroo delivery driver was sentenced to a total of six years and four months in prison after being found guilty of attempted rape in Portsmouth.Tesfagabriel Gebrzgabhir, 34, from Belmont Street, appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday, 26 May, having admitted to attempting to rape a woman during an incident on 1 February.
According to police reports, around 10:15 pm, a woman in her twenties was approached by a man on a bicycle in the Guildhall area.
The suspect followed her briefly before attempting to sexually assault her near the Cenotaph, also exposing himself indecently.
The court was told that the suspect was riding a distinctive neon green bicycle and carried a Deliveroo bag.
He approached the woman, who did not know him, and tried to remove her clothing.
She responded by filming him with her mobile phone before he rode away.
An investigation was launched, with officers conducting extensive CCTV analysis in the vicinity.
During these efforts, detectives identified a man matching the suspect’s description, riding a neon green bicycle with a Deliveroo bag on his back.
This led to Gebrzgabhir’s arrest and subsequent charges of sexual assault after DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
Judge's sentencing included a prison term of six years and four months, with an additional four-year extended license period, totaling ten years and four months.
Police Constable Sarah Ball, leading the investigation, praised the victim’s bravery in reporting the crime and aiding the investigation.
She emphasized the profound impact such crimes have on victims and highlighted the importance of encouraging others to come forward if they have experienced similar incidents.
