An illegal migrant in the United Kingdom has been arrested for the alleged raped a woman after being released from prison for a previous attempted rape.
35-year-old Radiet Meles, an Eritrean national and former soldier, was previously sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to rape an unconscious woman at a house party in Newport. Meles had been expected to face deportation after completing his sentence but was ultimately allowed to remain in Britain.
In February of 2019, Meles was cleared of rape but convicted of attempted rape after a jury found that he had taken advantage of a “heavily intoxicated” woman at a house party. Prosecutors said the victim had “little clear recollection of the events or the chronology at this time as she was heavily intoxicated.”
According to a report by the Daily Mail, jurors at his first trial said that Meles barely spoke English, and that prison would be a “burdensome experience” because he was away from his home country. Meles entered the UK through the Channel Tunnel in 2015.
After his 2019 conviction, the judge told him, “After your release, it's likely you will be held in an immigration detention centre.”
“As a consequence of this offence and sentence, the Home Secretary is likely to make a deportation order in your case,” Judge Christopher Vosper said.
However, Meles was not deported after completing his sentence. He was also not subject to monitoring after his release and was permitted to return to Newport, where the original offense occurred.
In March 2026, Meles was arrested again after allegedly attacking another woman. He denied rape and assault by beating but was convicted by a jury following a five-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court. He is due to be sentenced later this year.
35-year-old Radiet Meles, an Eritrean national and former soldier, was previously sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to rape an unconscious woman at a house party in Newport. Meles had been expected to face deportation after completing his sentence but was ultimately allowed to remain in Britain.
In February of 2019, Meles was cleared of rape but convicted of attempted rape after a jury found that he had taken advantage of a “heavily intoxicated” woman at a house party. Prosecutors said the victim had “little clear recollection of the events or the chronology at this time as she was heavily intoxicated.”
According to a report by the Daily Mail, jurors at his first trial said that Meles barely spoke English, and that prison would be a “burdensome experience” because he was away from his home country. Meles entered the UK through the Channel Tunnel in 2015.
After his 2019 conviction, the judge told him, “After your release, it's likely you will be held in an immigration detention centre.”
“As a consequence of this offence and sentence, the Home Secretary is likely to make a deportation order in your case,” Judge Christopher Vosper said.
However, Meles was not deported after completing his sentence. He was also not subject to monitoring after his release and was permitted to return to Newport, where the original offense occurred.
In March 2026, Meles was arrested again after allegedly attacking another woman. He denied rape and assault by beating but was convicted by a jury following a five-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court. He is due to be sentenced later this year.
