A Nigerian man living in the United Kingdom has been sentenced to five years in prison after raping and sexually assaulting a woman he met at her workplace in Gloucester.
Segun Ogundipe, 33, who lived on Tuffley Lane, Gloucester, was convicted at Gloucester Crown Court on multiple charges including rape, two counts of sexual assault, and assault by penetration, despite denying all the offences.
The conviction follows closely after another Nigerian, Elvis Nosakhare, was jailed for six years for sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s underage daughter, highlighting a troubling pattern of sexual crimes involving Nigerian nationals in the UK.
According to a Gloucestershire Police report from July 28, the offences occurred in 2022 when Ogundipe met the victim at her workplace and invited her out for a drink.
During their evening together, Ogundipe made increasingly sexual remarks that made the woman uncomfortable. The situation escalated when he drove to his house under the pretense of collecting something.
After the victim used the bathroom at his residence, Ogundipe sexually assaulted and raped her despite her resistance.
The assault continued even after they left his house, with Ogundipe touching the woman inappropriately as he drove her to Cheltenham, ignoring her repeated requests for him to stop.
The victim’s ordeal ended when police officers on routine patrol stopped Ogundipe’s car, providing her with an opportunity to escape the situation.
Initially, the woman was reluctant to disclose what had happened to her. However, an observant officer noticed her obvious distress and encouraged her to speak about her experience.
When she finally revealed that Ogundipe had raped her, he was immediately arrested and subsequently charged with multiple sexual offences.
During court proceedings, Ogundipe maintained his innocence and claimed that the victim had initiated sexual activity and given her consent. However, the jury rejected his version of events and found him guilty on all charges.
Judge Lowe, who presided over the case, acknowledged positive character references provided for Ogundipe but determined that the seriousness of his crimes warranted a substantial prison sentence.
In addition to the five-year prison term, Ogundipe will face deportation from the United Kingdom following his release.
The victim provided a powerful impact statement that was read in court, describing the devastating effect the assault had on her life and mental health.
“It is still crazy to me to think how your words and your actions have made me question my worth entirely,” the survivor stated in her court statement.
She described the ongoing psychological trauma caused by the assault, explaining how the memories continued to haunt her daily life.
“Some days, what you did to me plays over and over in my head. What you did was vile and one of the worst things you could do to someone,” she continued.
The victim revealed how the assault had affected her sense of self-worth and her ability to trust her own judgment about the incident.
“I spent so long believing that I must have deserved what you did to me, but I know now that you had no right to the rights of my body. Every single part of my life paused. I had to leave my job, a job that I loved deeply, because I couldn’t cope,” she explained.
The assault had far-reaching consequences beyond her professional life, affecting her ability to form new relationships and engage socially with others.
“I became scared to meet new people, to even smile at someone out of fear that it would be taken the wrong way. I lost my spark, and even now I’m still only starting to heal,” the victim stated.
Despite her suffering, the survivor used her court statement to encourage other victims of sexual assault to come forward and report their experiences.
“It doesn’t matter if you feel ashamed or if you feel you are somehow to blame. You will be believed and supported,” she urged other survivors.
Detective Constable Jon Furse, the investigating officer in the case, praised the victim’s courage in coming forward and pursuing justice despite the personal cost.
“Ogundipe’s actions that night have caused serious harm and will have a lasting impact on the victim,” Detective Constable Furse said following the sentencing.
He emphasized the police commitment to holding sexual offenders accountable for their crimes and encouraged other victims to report similar offences.
“We are dedicated to ensuring sexual offenders are held accountable for their horrific crimes, and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of rape or other sexual assaults to please come forward and speak to police,” the detective stated.
The case was reported on Instagram by Eye_opener220 on Friday, drawing attention to the conviction within Nigerian communities both in the UK and Nigeria.
