Man jailed for raping 15-year-old girl

A man who raped a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

The 15-year-old victim was with a friend in Manchester in the early hours of 14 July 2022.

Around 5am, Girmay Andes, 28, approached the girl, whilst she was alone, heading for the bus stop. He began complimenting her, offering her cigarettes then suggested they go back to his house together. She agreed and got in a taxi with Andes.

As soon as they arrived at his home in Droylsden, he locked the front door and also locked the bedroom door after leading her inside. Andes then raped the teenager and didn’t stop, despite her protests.

The girl texted one of her carers and told Andes that her mother had tracked her location and contacted police.

They then left the property together with Andes giving the girl £20 to leave the area, before telling her to get on the bus. Whilst she was on the bus the police contacted her and she reported the rape.

Andes was arrested and claimed that it was the teenager who had initiated sex.

He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of rape following a five-day trial at Manchester Crown Court.

At the sentence hearing today, the teenager’s victim impact statement was read to the court. She explained how her mental health had been affected massively by what happened. She has flashbacks and is constantly scared when she goes for walks.

Andes was also sentenced for two sexual assaults that he had previously admitted, whereby he approached two women in Salford in the early hours of 16 March 2021 and began making sexualised comments before sexually assaulting them both.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for the sexual assaults, to run alongside the eight-year sentence for rape.

Ruby McKeague, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit, said: “Andes raped a vulnerable, looked-after child and sexually assaulted two young women.

“His actions were predatory in nature on both occasions and have caused immense distress for the victims.

“The CPS applied for the 15-year-old to give her evidence on video and have the cross examination pre-recorded so she wouldn’t have to face Andes in the court room.

“Thanks to the bravery of all three young women, coming forward and telling their story a predatory sex offender has been taken off the streets.”