Zimbabwean Woman Karen Murerwa Jailed In UK For Sexually Assaulting 17-Year-Old Girl

Zimbabwean national Karen Murerwa has been jailed for six years and four months in the United Kingdom after locking a 17-year-old girl inside her Nottingham home and sexually assaulting her.

Murerwa, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of false imprisonment following the attack on 10 March 2026.

She was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, 10 September.

The court also imposed a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered that Murerwa remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

The teenage victim cannot be identified because victims of sexual offences are entitled to lifelong anonymity under British law.

Teenager Lured Into Nottingham Home

According to Nottinghamshire Police, Murerwa approached the 17-year-old while she was walking near Seaton Crescent in the Broxtowe area of Nottingham.

The pair had not met before.

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Murerwa persuaded the teenager to enter her home after indicating that she needed help.

Once they were inside, however, Murerwa locked the door.

Police said the frightened teenager attempted to determine where Murerwa had placed the keys and memorised details about the property as she considered how she could escape.

Murerwa then gave the teenager alcohol and took away her mobile phone, further restricting her ability to leave or seek assistance.

She forced the girl to send a message to her mother falsely claiming that she was spending time with a friend.

The message concealed both the teenager’s location and the identity of the person she was with.

Murerwa subsequently took the girl upstairs and sexually assaulted her.

The teenager was eventually allowed to leave the property.

Murerwa Pleaded Guilty

Police launched an investigation after the teenager disclosed what had happened.

The investigation resulted in Murerwa’s arrest and prosecution.

She later admitted two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of false imprisonment, meaning the teenager was not required to establish Murerwa’s guilt at a contested trial.

Judge James Sampson sentenced Murerwa to six years and four months in prison.

In addition to the custodial sentence, the lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order places restrictions on Murerwa intended to protect the public from the risk of further sexual harm.

She will also remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

Judge Praises Teenager For Coming Forward

Sampson praised the teenager for reporting the assault and participating in the criminal proceedings.

He told her that by finding the courage to come forward, she “may have saved another child from a similar experience”.

Detective Sergeant Nicola Roddis-Ferrari of Nottinghamshire Police said Murerwa had deliberately targeted the teenager.

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“Murerwa deliberately targeted this vulnerable young girl, coerced her into entering her home and restricted her movements before sexually assaulting her,” Roddis-Ferrari said.

“Murerwa’s actions have had a huge impact on this girl’s life. She had been kind to Murerwa and wanted to help her, only for her to repay that kindness by sexually assaulting her.”

Roddis-Ferrari said investigators hoped the outcome of the case would provide the teenager with some measure of closure.

She also praised the girl for speaking to specially trained officers and continuing to support the investigation and prosecution.

“I also hope this court result gives encouragement to any other victims that they can come forward in the confidence that we will listen carefully to them, we will investigate, and we will do everything we can to seek justice for them,” she said.

The teenager’s identity remains legally protected.