Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing 13-Year-Old Girl in Stoke-on-Trent Faces Deportation

Natnael Teclehaimanot, 32, jailed for 4 years for sexually abusing a 13-year-old runaway in Stoke-on-Trent. Faces deportation after targeting vulnerable teen. Natnael Teclehaimanot, a 32-year-old man originally from Eritrea, has been sentenced to four years in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for sexually abusing a sobbing 13-year-old girl. The conviction, following a trial in July, is expected to lead to his deportation after serving half his sentence.

Teclehaimanot was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The court heard that Teclehaimanot encountered the girl in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, in the early hours of the morning. The victim, dressed in pyjama bottoms and a hoodie, had run away from home after an argument with her mother and was lost with a dead mobile phone battery. She approached Teclehaimanot, asking for a place to charge her phone. He offered to help, taking her by taxi to his residence on Century Street, Hanley, under the pretense of providing a charging facility.

Prosecutor James Hudson stated that Teclehaimanot, aware of the girl’s age, isolated her in his home and subjected her to sexual abuse. The court learned that he had lied about his own age and falsely presented himself as trustworthy. He admitted to being under the influence of alcohol during the incident.

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The victim was able to contact her aunt using her newly charged phone, who arranged for a taxi to retrieve her.

In a victim impact statement read by the girl’s grandmother, the teenager described profound trauma, stating she struggles with self-harm, distrust of men, and suicidal thoughts. She expressed regret for not resisting and described the lasting emotional toll, saying, “I was happy and friendly. Now I take my feelings out on others.”

Defence counsel Rashad Mohammed acknowledged the severity of the offence but described it as opportunistic, noting Teclehaimanot’s lack of prior convictions and his claim of innocence. Mohammed highlighted that Teclehaimanot, who has indefinite leave to remain in the UK after fleeing ill-treatment in Eritrea, has no family in the country and has supported relatives in Africa through employment.

Judge Richard McConaghy, in sentencing, emphasized the gravity of the offence, stating, “You targeted a particularly vulnerable victim. You seized your opportunity to isolate her and sexually abuse her.” He noted Teclehaimanot’s lack of remorse, as detailed in a pre-sentence report, and the significant impact on the victim.