A Bedford man has been jailed after a jury at Luton Crown Court found him guilty of raping a woman he approached in the town centre in the early hours of 6 July 2024.
Sentence and case details
Robel Gebremariam, aged 25 and from Dudley Street in Bedford, was sentenced on 14 July to nine years' imprisonment with an additional one-year extended licence. The conviction followed a four-day trial earlier this year.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 July 2024 | Incident in Greyfriars; victim approached and taken to a shop |
| Earlier in 2026 | Four-day trial at Luton Crown Court |
| 14 July 2026 | Sentencing: nine years prison, one year extended licence |
What the prosecution says happened
Prosecutors described how the defendant approached the woman in Greyfriars, walked with her to a shop where he bought her a bottle of alcohol, then booked a taxi and took her to the house where he was staying. There, the woman was given more alcohol before she was raped. The victim reported the assault to police soon afterwards.
- Location: Greyfriars in Bedford town centre
- Defendant: Robel Gebremariam, 25, Dudley Street, Bedford
- Investigation led by Bedfordshire Police’s RASSO team using CCTV and intelligence
Police response and victim support
Officers from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit carried out the inquiry, identifying the suspect through CCTV and intelligence work. Detective Constable Olivia Phillips, speaking for the RASSO team, praised the victim’s decision to come forward and stressed the force’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
“The victim showed remarkable bravery in coming forward and speaking to officers ... we are committed to tackling male violence against women and girls,”
The detective said the case showed how seriously such offences are treated and encouraged other victims to report assaults, with a promise they will be listened to and supported.
Local context and implications
The conviction will be seen by many in Bedford as a reminder of the risks that can face people travelling on foot in town late at night and the importance of reporting offending behaviour. It also underlines the role of local specialist police teams and the use of CCTV in linking perpetrators to crimes.
Bedford Borough Council and local community safety partners have previously highlighted work to improve town-centre safety, including street lighting, CCTV coverage and patrols. This sentence comes amid ongoing efforts to reassure residents and visitors that violent offending will be investigated and prosecuted.
Support for victims
Anyone affected by sexual violence or in need of help can contact local victim support services and Bedfordshire Police for advice on reporting incidents. The RASSO team continues to ask people with information about similar offences to come forward.
