Notting Hill Sexual Assault Victim Praised after Conviction of Priest

By Greg Burns
Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle
May 24, 2012

http://kensington.londoninformer.co.uk/2012/05/notting-hill-sexual-assault-vi.html


A NOTTING Hill woman has been praised by police for taking the witness stand in a court case against a priest who sexually assaulted her.

The 59-year-old woman was a parishioner at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church of St Mary of Debre Tsion, in Battersea.

The church was led by Gebrehana Semre (pictured) who subsequently used his position to visit the woman in September 2010 to bless her home and welcome her into the church.

He told her that for the blessing to be successful she would need to be naked. Although uncomfortable with his demand, the victim trusted the clergyman and went along with it.

During the ritual 'blessing', Semre sexually assaulted her three times.

She was reluctant to go to police but her family persuaded her to take a stand a month after the attack.

Detectives from Kensington and Chelsea's community safety investigated and charged Semre with three sexual assaults.

At one point the trial had to be adjourned as the victim struggled with the distress of giving her account in the witness stand.

Semre initially denied all three charges but was convicted of two in an earlier trial in December 2010 when the jury failed to agree on the third. The judge ordered a retrial and at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, May 11, Semre admitted the third sexual assault.

He was given a12-month suspended sentence for each offence, to run concurrently.

DS Paul Power, who led the investigation, said: "This was a complete breach of trust by a man who was able to use his position within the church to sexually abuse a member of his congregation.

"The impact this has had on her is immeasurable. She is no longer able to be a part of the church that she believes in and she continues to be affected by this on a daily basis.

"I commend her strength and courage in coming forward and speaking out against this, and hope that this will encourage others who may have also been victims of abuse."

Police also warned that it was likely Semre had targeted other victims and asked them not to be too scared to contact them.

DI Jason Fitzpatrick added: "This individual has clearly targeted vulnerable victims, believing they will not report him to police through fear.

"Semre still practises within his community and I would like to assure anyone who may also be a victim of our support and commitment to their safety, and encourage them to contact us."