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CONVICTED RAPIST: Sami Tesfay

A MAN convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to indefinitely stay inside a secure facility.

Sami Tesfay, 22, of Lewisham, southeast London, was found guilty of forcing sex with his child victim on July 10 at Woolwich Crown Court.

The court gave him a section 37 Hospital Order and a section 41 indefinite restriction order on September 20.

He used a social media site to befriend the girl and arranged online to meet her and a friend in person on January 19, of this year.

They met again a few days later and on January 23 Tesfay made her perform a sex act on him at his home address.

He was arrested the next day and charged with raping a female under 13.

“Tesfay used a social networking site to befriend his victim. He groomed her, gained her trust and exploited her for his own needs. The victim has now seen him convicted for what he did to her”, detective constable James Taylor said.

“This case highlights the negative side of social media and the need for parents to be vigilant around who their children are communicating with online.

“This successful outcome I hope should encourage other victims of sexual crime to come forward and report what has happened to them.”

Detective chief inspector Pete Thomas added: “Tesfay befriends vulnerable children and exploits them. In this case the victim was beguiled by his attention and belief that he was sincere about their relationship.

“He has now been found guilty and will be held in a secure facility to prevent harming others.

“Anyone who has been a victim of rape should come forward and tell us what has happened so we and other agencies can provide them with the necessary support.”