41-Year-Old Migrant Sentenced for Sexual Assault Against Minor

Anicet Mayela, a 41-year-old migrant, has received a sentence of ten years and ten months for s3xually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, which resulted in her pregnancy. The attack occurred while Mayela was under the influence of alcohol.

Mayela had previously been granted asylum in the UK after multiple unsuccessful deportation attempts.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that he forced the minor to undress before the assault. The investigation into the incident was triggered by the discovery of a note regarding a pregnancy termination, leading the victim to eventually disclose the assault to authorities.

Initially, Mayela confessed to his actions and pled guilty. However, he later changed his stance and began to deny his guilt. A judge had previously rejected his request to withdraw his guilty plea.

The prosecution highlighted the aggravating factors in this case, notably the victim’s young age and the outcome of the assault, which was her becoming pregnant.

In a poignant moment during the trial, the victim expressed her feelings about the sentencing, stating, ‘I know you’re getting sentenced today…I’m so ready for it.’

The court was informed that assessments indicated Mayela poses a risk of serious harm to young girls. Prosecutor Edward Lucas argued that Mayela should be regarded as dangerous in terms of sentencing.

Mayela’s defense attorney, Peter Du Feu, stated that following the death of Mayela’s wife due to cancer, he had struggled with alcohol dependency and depression. He characterized the incident as a ‘one-off’ event.

In passing sentence, Judge Maria Lamb condemned the act as a ‘horrific offense’ and acknowledged the profound impact on the victim, remarking, ‘It was her first s3xual experience, and the distress you caused that child, who became pregnant, must have been immense.’

The judge noted the absence of remorse from Mayela, emphasizing that this lack of acknowledgment compounded the victim’s suffering. She also praised the victim’s resilience and ability to forgive despite the trauma endured, stating, ‘She is a remarkable young woman.’

During sentencing, Mayela was visibly emotional. He had admitted to the sexual assault in April and will serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release on license. Post-release, he must remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and comply with the stipulations of the Sexual Offences Act.

At the hearing, it was noted that Mayela, who had no prior convictions, would also be barred from any roles involving children. Previously, a judge had found no reason to overturn his guilty plea.

Earlier reports indicated that multiple attempts were made to deport Mayela from the UK after his initial asylum claim was denied, but he was ultimately granted the right to remain in the country following legal challenges.

Details from the Institute of Race Relations indicated that he originally fled his home country due to threats to his life and faced numerous struggles while seeking asylum in the UK.