A 34-year-old Zimbabwean woman has been jailed for six years and four months after luring a teenage schoolgirl into her home in Nottingham, locking her inside and subjecting her to a sustained sexual assault.
Karen Murerwa approached the girl on 10 March 2026 as she was walking nearby. The pair did not know each other, but Murerwa persuaded the teenager to return with her to a house in Seaton Crescent.
Once they entered the property, Murerwa locked the door behind them. The frightened girl tried to observe where the keys had been placed and took note of details inside the house because she wanted to leave and return home.
The court heard that Murerwa then tightened her control over the teenager. She gave the girl alcohol, took away her mobile phone and made her send a message to her mother claiming that she was with a friend.
The girl was later taken upstairs, where Murerwa sexually assaulted her. Police described the attack as serious and sustained. The victim was eventually allowed to leave the house and later disclosed what had happened to her.
Murerwa pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of false imprisonment. She was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, 10 September. In addition to the prison sentence, Murerwa was handed a lifetime sexual harm prevention order. She must also remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
After passing sentence, Judge James Sampson praised the teenager for reporting the attack. He said that by speaking out, she “may have saved another child from a similar experience.”
Detective Sergeant Nicola Roddis-Ferrari said: “Murerwa deliberately targeted this vulnerable young girl, coerced her into entering her home and restricted her movements before sexually assaulting her.
“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.
“I hope this court result brings some closure to the victim and allows her to move on from what must have been a very traumatic ordeal.
“I’d like to commend her bravery for coming forward, as I know it would have taken great courage to speak to our specially-trained officers about what happened and relive her horrendous experience.
“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.”
The investigation began after the girl told others about the assault. Police officers then carried out inquiries, leading to Murerwa’s arrest and subsequent charges.
The details presented to the court show how the teenager was isolated through a series of actions. Murerwa first persuaded her to enter the property, then prevented her from leaving, removed her access to her telephone and controlled the message sent to her mother. The girl’s attempt to remember where the keys had been placed also showed that she was frightened and looking for a way out.
The case has drawn attention to the dangers faced by young people when they are approached by adults they do not know. The girl was not taken to the house by force at the outset, but police said Murerwa used coercion and control after persuading her to enter.
The victim’s age has not been publicly disclosed. Like other victims of sexual offences, she is protected from being identified.
Murerwa’s conviction came during a year in which Nottinghamshire police also dealt with other serious sexual offence cases involving vulnerable young women. In June, Sheraz Malik was given an extended 14-year sentence after being convicted of two counts of rape involving an 18-year-old woman in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The court heard that Malik met the woman at Sutton Lawn on the evening of 29 June 2025 after she had been introduced to him and a group of older men by a friend. She was first raped by another member of the group before Malik led her to a secluded area and raped her a second time.
Malik was identified after an initial suspect was arrested and was later traced to an address in Newcastle. He gave no comment during two police interviews, including when questioned about DNA evidence linking him to the victim. During his trial, he claimed the sex had been consensual, but a jury rejected his account. He was convicted in January and cleared of a third rape charge.
That case resulted in a sentence of 10 years in custody followed by four years on extended licence. Police said inquiries were continuing to locate and arrest another suspect.
The two Nottinghamshire cases involved different circumstances and different offenders, but both investigations focused on the vulnerability of the victims and the importance of their accounts in securing convictions. In Murerwa’s case, the teenage girl’s decision to disclose the assault led to the investigation that resulted in the charges and guilty pleas.
Detective Sergeant Roddis-Ferrari said specially trained officers supported the girl while taking her account of what had happened. She said the teenager had to relive a “horrendous experience” when speaking to investigators.
The detective also praised the girl for having the courage to come forward, saying she hoped the sentence would give other victims confidence that police would listen to them, investigate their complaints and work to secure justice.
Murerwa will now serve her prison sentence under the terms imposed by Nottingham Crown Court. The lifetime order and indefinite registration requirements will continue after her release.