An individual, Woundoson Gabre Rodbourne Rapist, has been incarcerated following a plea of guilt for numerous transgressions committed against three individuals, including a sexual assault carried out using a knife as a weapon.
Woundoson Gabre, a 21-year-old resident of Saltash Road, Rodbourne, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on August 22nd. He pleaded guilty to one charge of rape, two charges of attempted rape, actual bodily injury, and perverting the course of justice.
The individual received a verdict of 13 years of incarceration and an additional five years under extended supervision. In addition, he will be permanently included on the sex offenders’ registry.
On May 29, 2022, during the early hours, Woundoson singled out his initial victim, a woman in her 50s, in an alleyway connecting Corporation Street and Aylesbury Street, Swindon. The woman was walking home after a night out.
He made an effort to assault her sexually, but someone from the public stepped in. At that moment, Woundoson Gabre appeared to be assisting the woman and also called emergency services, falsely telling the police that he had been attacked as well.
On May 30, immediately following his first attempted rape, Woundoson Gabre specifically singled out two additional ladies in distinct occurrences.
On May 30, at approximately 1.30 am, Gabre engaged in a physical assault against a woman in her 30s on Manchester Road. He repeatedly struck her with his fists and attempted to commit sexual assault.
She managed to defend herself and escape on Woundoson Gabre’s bicycle successfully.
Later that day, at approximately 8 pm, Woundoson Gabre transported his third victim, a woman in her 30s, to his residence on Saltash Road, where he sexually assaulted her using a knife as a weapon.
After a protracted legal proceeding, which included Woundoson Gabre altering his plea, he was sentenced today to serve a 13-year prison term following his eventual admission of guilt for the acts.
The following are extracts from the Victim Personal Statements of the three victims, which are being shared with their consent:
Victim 1: “Physically, the scar on my face and the lump on my chin is still visible and is a constant reminder of what happened that night. Emotionally, I haven’t had any relationship with a man as I’m not interested in intimacy anymore. This whole process has been hanging over me for over two years, so I haven’t been able to put it all behind me and get on with my life.”
Victim 2: “It took weeks and months for the physical injuries to heal, but as well as the physical injuries, it has affected me mentally. My depression has got a lot worse since the attack. I keep reliving what happened, and I can’t get it out of my head.”
Victim 3: “The attack I sustained by this man was so horrific to me that I have had to have several months of counselling, and I have been diagnosed with PTSD. This man scared me so much from that night that I no longer have the privilege of living my life without fear.”
DC Emma Rossiter, who was part of the Swindon CID at the time, stated that Gabre was a predatory person who specifically sought out three vulnerable women within 48 hours.
“The perpetrator’s abhorrent behaviour has caused lasting physical and psychological harm to his three victims, with enduring consequences.”
“The investigation has been intricate and prolonged since the initial incident, as Woundoson Gabre has consistently deceived officers by providing false statements and deliberately concealing facts to hide his actions.”
He has been charged and convicted of perverting the course of justice for that reason.
“I would like to express my admiration for the three victims’ resilience and composure throughout this procedure, and I hope this sentencing provides them with a sense of resolution.”
If you have experienced victimisation, it is imperative that you promptly report incidents of rape or sexual assault. Regardless of your level of certainty, Wiltshire Police would prefer to receive information from you to ensure your safety. It is perfectly acceptable if you are not currently prepared to engage in a conversation with law enforcement. Here, you can access various resources for assistance, guidance, and medical assistance.
You can communicate with these organisations confidentially, and any information you provide will not be disclosed to the police unless you explicitly request it.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.