Pair who followed a woman off a tram before sex assault are snared by DNA evidence

Two men have been jailed for sexual assault on a woman they followed off a tram.

Convictions were secured after police traced the offenders through cigarettes which were left at the scene and DNA from the victim.

Adhamon Mebrahtu, of Norbury, was sentenced to five years in prison at Croydon Crown Court on April 25. He previously was found guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration on February 12. He also pleaded guilty to the theft of the woman’s phone at a previous hearing.

Yesterday, Jamie Osman, of Thornton Heath, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to three years in prison, following a retrial which took place in September. He was convicted by a jury of sexual assault by penetration.

In November 2018, Mebrahtu and Osman followed the woman home after they met her on a tram in Croydon. They forced their way into the building in which she lived in Addiscombe and proceeded to sexually assault her in her own home.

The victim – who was 26 at the time of the offence – reported the rape to police, who recovered stubbed-out cigarettes in her bedroom, providing vital DNA which was used to identify the pair.

The defendants denied any interaction with the woman when interviewed, but detectives analysed hours’ worth of CCTV to disprove their lies.

Detective Constable Paul Harakis, who led the investigation, said: “I would like to commend the bravery shown by the victim-survivor who has shown great courage and resilience throughout this difficult process.

“I’m proud we have been able to bring these dangerous offenders to justice and make London safer as a result. I hope they spend their time in jail to reflect on the devastating consequences of their abhorrent actions.

“Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe in the city they call home and we’re committed to continuing our mission to protect our communities from harm, eradicating sexual violence caused largely at the hands of predatory men.”

Pictured top: Adhamon Mebrahtu, left, and Jamie Osman (Pictures: The Met)