Man Sentenced for Rape in Wrexham
A 24-year-old man from Manchester has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for raping a young woman after pulling her into woods in Wrexham.
Gift Oladele committed the assault in September of the previous year after establishing a rapport with the 18-year-old victim while she was returning home from a night out.
Oladele had a prior conviction from 2022 for a sexually motivated assault in Manchester.
Following a trial at Mold Crown Court in March, he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
During the sentencing hearing held in Caernarfon, it was revealed that Oladele was already on bail due to another rape allegation in Manchester dating from November 2024.
Details of the Attack
The court heard that Oladele approached the victim while she was with friends outside a take-away restaurant in Wrexham city centre. Initially, he appeared "friendly and flirtatious."
The victim was described as "completely sober" and fully aware of her surroundings.
Prosecutor James Coutts explained that Oladele told the woman he was walking home the same way and accompanied her.
However, upon reaching an isolated area, he forcibly covered her mouth and dragged her into nearby woods where he violently raped her.
"She described being terrified,"
Coutts said.
"She did what she thought she needed to do to get through the attack,"
he added.
Oladele left the victim "isolated, vulnerable and alone" at the scene.
The court was informed that Oladele threatened the woman by saying he would "find her and harm her" if she reported the rape, and warned he would take photographs and post them online.
Despite these threats, the victim immediately informed her parents upon arriving home, and the police were contacted.
Oladele was arrested the following day at his cousin's residence in Wrexham.
Authorities discovered he had attempted to conceal a mobile phone, which contained searches related to sexual attacks.
The prosecution asserted that Oladele had "a fascination in forced sexual abuse and rape" and that he was "acting out a fantasy in these videos."
Victim Impact Statement
The 18-year-old victim addressed the court, revealing she suffers from nightmares every night, fearing that Oladele has tracked her down.
"I'm petrified,"
she said while reading her victim impact statement.
She described undergoing a course of medication to prevent HIV infection and enduring long-term mental and emotional harm as a consequence of the assault.
"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.
"
Judge Simon Mills commended the victim's bravery, stating:
"You showed exceptional courage during the incident and afterwards."
Sentencing Remarks
In sentencing Oladele, Judge Mills characterized the attacker's conduct as "truly depraved."
"You subjected her to a terrible violation,"
he said.
"You are a dangerous offender."
The judge emphasized that Oladele posed an exceptionally high risk of harm to young women and noted that he had demonstrated "absolutely no remorse whatsoever."
