A UK-based Nigerian, Gift Oladele, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for rape and sexual assault after dragging a young woman into woods and attacking her in Wrexham, United Kingdom.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday at Mold Crown Court, as reported by BBC.
Oladele, 24, carried out the attack in September 2025 after befriending the victim, then 19, while she was returning home from a night out.
PUNCH Metro had reported he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault at the court trial in March.
According to the prosecution, led by James Coutts, Oladele approached the victim outside a takeaway in Wrexham city centre where she was with friends, appearing “friendly and flirtatious” before offering to walk her home.
However, as they reached an isolated area, he grabbed her, covered her mouth and forced her into nearby woods where the attack took place.
Describing the incident, the prosecutor said, “She described being terrified; she did what she thought she needed to do to get through the attack.”
The court heard that Oladele threatened to “find her and harm her” if she reported the incident and also threatened to take photographs and post them online before fleeing, leaving the victim isolated, vulnerable and alone.
But the victim returned home and informed her parents, who contacted the police.
Oladele was arrested the next day at his cousin’s home in Wrexham after attempting to hide a mobile phone, which later revealed searches linked to sexual attacks.
Investigators told the court that Oladele had a fascination with forced sexual abuse and rape.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, Oladele was already on bail over another rape allegation in Manchester in November 2024.
He had also previously been jailed in 2022 for a sexually motivated attack.
Following his jail term, the UK Home Office reportedly ordered his deportation, but he appealed the deportation order.
He was said to have argued that he had no ties to Nigeria because he was born in Italy, and that deporting him to Nigeria would be a breach of his rights.
In his ruling, Judge Simon Mills described the offence as “truly depraved” and labelled Oladele a dangerous offender with a high risk to young women.
“You subjected her to a terrible violation. You are a dangerous offender,” he said.
In her victim impact statement, the survivor told the court she continues to suffer severe trauma and fear.
She said, “I’m petrified, I feel ashamed, and somehow damaged, since what he did to me.
“The emotional impact has been very significant. I can’t go anywhere on my own anymore. I feel unsafe.”
The judge commended her courage, stating: “You showed exceptional courage during the incident and afterwards.”