Jail for sex offender who spied on woman in Fishergate Centre toilets

A sex offender who spied a woman in the Fishergate Centre toilets, while visiting Preston for a treatment programme has been jailed.

Haben Mihretab, 22, is banned from entering any female toilets following a previous conviction for voyeurism in 2019.

On March 7th, 2020, Mihretab attended a sexual offender treatment programme in Preston city centre after a previous conviction.

After completing his first day of the course, Mihretab went to the Fishergate Shopping Centre, Preston, and sneaked into the female toilets where he peered over the cubicle, before being spotted by a female victim.

Fishergate Shopping Centre Pic: Google — Mibretab committed an act or voyeurism in Fishergate Shopping Centre toilets. Pic: Google

Mihretab was identified by the victim and was then traced by Preston CCTV and British Transport Police into Preston Railway Station and subsequently arrested.

Mihretab, of of Heatley Close, Blackburn, was arrested for breaching his notification requirements and SHPO and then further arrested on suspicion of voyeurism after CCTV evidence from the shopping centre was obtained.

Officers attended his home on the same day to conduct an unannounced compliance visit and found he had moved address five days earlier but failed to notify police.

He pleaded guilty to voyeurism, breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and breaching his notification requirement by failing to inform Lancashire Police of a change of address.

He was sentenced to 22 months in custody at Preston Crown Court.

PC Tom Dawson, from Lancashire Police’s Risk and Threat Team, said: “Mihretab is a very concerning individual and I am pleased that he is now back behind bars. We will continue to work hard to safeguard the public from persistent offenders like this.

“If anyone has been the victim of a sexual offence, I would urge them to come forward and report it to us on 101.

“We take all reports seriously and ensure that victims are treated sensitively and professionally at all times.”

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