A convicted sex offender who remained in the UK after serving a prison sentence for attempting to rape an unconscious woman has been found guilty of raping another woman. Radiet Meles, 35, from Eritrea, was convicted following a five-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court after denying rape and assault by beating. The court heard that Meles entered the UK clandestinely through the Channel Tunnel in 2015 after hiding in a lorry. He was later taken to Newport, where he worked at a car wash and an Amazon distribution centre. His latest conviction follows an earlier sexual attack for which he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Previous attempted rape conviction
In February 2019, Meles was cleared of rape but convicted of attempted rape after targeting a heavily intoxicated woman following a night out in Newport in August 2018. The woman had been drinking before attending a house party and was so intoxicated that she had little recollection of what happened. Sentencing Meles over that offence, Judge Christopher Vosper told him: “You saw that the victim was heavily intoxicated and, to all intents and purposes, she was unconscious. “You had formed an intention to take advantage of her if you could.” The judge also indicated that Meles was likely to face immigration detention following his release and that the Home Secretary was likely to make a deportation order. However, following completion of his sentence, Meles remained in Britain and returned to Newport.
Second woman raped
Meles was arrested in March 2026 after police were called following an attack on another woman. He denied rape and assault by beating but was convicted by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court. Meles, of West Park Road, Newport, has been warned that he faces a “lengthy custodial” sentence when he returns to court for sentencing in November. His current immigration status and the reasons he remained in the UK following his earlier sentence were not established in the information provided.
