Quick-thinking girl's text snares train sex pest

A 17-year-old girl reported a man had touched himself inappropriately in front of her while she was on a train from Birmingham to Lichfield earlier that day, on July 9 2014.

The girl told detectives the same man had behaved in a similar way on two occasions in January while travelling on the same line, but had not reported the incidents to police.

After taking her report, Detective Constable Stephanie Davis from Birmingham CID made sure the girl had all the information she needed in case she ever saw the man again, including the 61016 text number.

Officers carried out numerous inquiries into the three reported offences, but the suspect was unable to be identified.

On August 5 2014, the girl saw the same man again and immediately sent a text to 61016 with information about the train she was on, including that he had boarded at Blake Street railway station.

Officers trawled CCTV footage from cameras along the route and Yonas Abraha was the only person seen boarding the train at Blake Street.

His image was circulated to the media and on September 15 2014, the 42-year-old came forward to say he was the man in the footage.

During their investigation, officers established cleaning supervisor Abraha was also responsible for another offence, where he exposed himself to an 18-year-old woman on the same route in March.

Abraha, from Bournville, claimed he travelled to Lichfield because he liked the scenery, but denied touching or exposing himself on the train.

He was charged with four counts of outraging public decency – three against the 17-year-old and one against the 18-year-old.

Following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Abraha, of Bournville Lane, was found guilty on all counts.

On March 11 2016, he was fined £2,500, sentenced to a three-year community order and given a restraining order which will monitor his train travel, as well as prevent him from contacting the victims.