A 29-year-old Nigerian man, Chiemka Okoronta, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a 17-year-old girl after offering to share a taxi w
A 29-year-old Nigerian man, Chiemka Okoronta, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a 17-year-old girl after offering to share a taxi with her when her bus service ended unexpectedly in Leeds, United Kingdom.
According to a BBC report on Monday, Okoronta, who was convicted of three counts of rape, was informed that he would likely be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence.
Okoronta, of Morley Street, Bradford, was the only other passenger on a night bus that stopped at Morley on March 25. The court heard that the victim, who was traveling home to Bradford, had little money and her phone battery had died.
Prosecutors said Okoronta, a postgraduate student, offered to share a taxi with the girl but directed the driver to his flat instead. Once there, he lured the teenager inside and raped her in a locked toilet.
The victim managed to escape after the assault and sought help from a passer-by to contact the police.
At Bradford Crown Court, Okoronta was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with an additional three years on an extended license. He will also remain on the sex offenders register for life.
In a statement read in court, the victim said the attack had left her traumatized and fearful of public spaces.
“It turned my life upside down. I have flashbacks and nightmares. I can’t take a bus without feeling uncomfortable, and I avoid Bradford city center now,” she said.
Sentencing him, Judge Sophie McKone described Okoronta as a “dangerous sexual predator” who deliberately targeted a vulnerable victim.
“You knew she was miles from home, had no working phone and little money. I am satisfied that when you offered to share a taxi, you had already formulated a plan to get her back to your address where you could rape her,” the judge said.
Detective Constable Sue Sutcliffe of West Yorkshire Police praised the victim for her courage in reporting the crime.
“I would like to commend the victim for her immense bravery in coming forward straight away to report this horrific offense. I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offense to please report it to us so we can take action,” she said.