British judge sentences young Nigerian immigrant to 17-year prison term for sexual assault

A UK court has handed down a 17-year prison sentence to Gift Oladele, a 24-year-old Nigerian migrant, for raping a 19-year-old woman in Wrexham, Wales, after dragging her into nearby woods.

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The judgment was delivered on Thursday at Mold Crown Court, following his conviction in March for rape and sexual assault over the September 2025 attack, with the prosecution led by James Coutts.

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According to the prosecution, Oladele approached the victim outside a takeaway in Wrexham city centre, where she was with friends, and appeared friendly and flirtatious before offering to walk her home, but his intentions were far from genuine.

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As they reached an isolated area, he grabbed her, covered her mouth, and forced her into the woods, where the terrifying attack took place, leaving the victim traumatized and vulnerable.

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The court heard that the victim was terrified during the ordeal and did what she thought necessary to survive, as described by the barrister, who said she was forced to endure a horrific experience.

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Oladele threatened to harm the victim if she reported the incident and also threatened to post photographs online, but despite these threats, she found the courage to inform her parents, who immediately contacted the police.

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The police arrested Oladele the next day at his cousin's home in Wrexham, where he attempted to hide a mobile phone that later revealed his disturbing searches linked to sexual attacks.

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Investigations revealed that Oladele had a fascination with forced sexual abuse and rape, and further findings showed that he was already on bail over another rape allegation in Manchester in November 2024.

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Oladele had previously been jailed in 2022 for a sexually motivated attack and had successfully appealed against deportation to Nigeria on human rights grounds, despite the Home Office's attempts to overturn the decision.

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Judge Simon Mills described the crime as truly depraved and labelled Oladele a dangerous offender with a high risk to young women, stating that he had subjected the victim to a terrible violation.

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In her victim impact statement, the survivor expressed the severe trauma and fear she continues to suffer, stating that she feels petrified, ashamed, and damaged since the attack.

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The judge commended the victim's courage, stating that she showed exceptional courage during the incident and afterwards, as she bravely shared her experience with the court.