'Truly depraved' rapist jailed for 17 years for Wrexham attack

'Truly depraved' rapist jailed for 17 years for Wrexham attack

A 24-year-old man from Manchester has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for an attack in Wrexham, where he forcibly took an 18-year-old woman into the woods and raped her. Gift Oladele committed the assault in September of the previous year, having initially approached the young woman while she was out with friends. The incident was heard at Mold Crown Court in March, where Oladele was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

Oladele’s violent offense followed a prior conviction in 2022 for a similar sexually motivated crime in Manchester. At the time of sentencing in Caernarfon, it was revealed he was already out on bail in connection with another rape allegation from November 2024. The court heard that Oladele had seemed friendly and flirtatious when he first encountered the victim outside a take-away in Wrexham city centre. The victim, who was completely sober and fully aware, believed they were walking home the same way until Oladele suddenly forced her into a secluded woodland area and sexually assaulted her.

The prosecution painted a disturbing picture of Oladele, highlighting his threatening behavior after the attack, when he warned the victim that he would find and harm her if she reported the crime. He also threatened to post compromising photographs online. Despite her fear, the woman contacted her parents immediately upon returning home, who then alerted the police. Officers arrested Oladele the following day at his cousin’s residence. During the arrest, he attempted to conceal a mobile phone, which, upon examination, contained searches related to sexual violence, suggesting an obsession with forced sexual abuse.

The victim shared a harrowing victim impact statement, describing ongoing emotional and psychological trauma, including nightly nightmares and a pervasive fear that Oladele might track her down. She disclosed taking medication to prevent HIV infection and expressed feelings of shame and damage caused by the ordeal, which has left her unable to feel safe alone. Judge Simon Mills commended her bravery, stating, “You showed exceptional courage during the incident and afterwards.” The judge condemned Oladele’s conduct as “truly depraved,” emphasizing the severe violation inflicted and labeling him a “dangerous offender” who demonstrated no remorse and posed a significant threat to young women

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More