Chiemka Okoronta, a Nigerian postgraduate student residing in the UK, is scheduled to be deported following a 10-year prison sentence for raping a teenage girl in West Yorkshire.
The 29-year-old committed the crime, according to a BBC story on Monday, when the teenager became stuck on a night bus in Morley, Leeds, on March 25 while they were both traveling back to Bradford.
According to court records, Okoronta deceived the victim into riding in a cab with him before enticing her into his lodging and abusing her in a secluded restroom.
The Bradford Crown Court was informed by the prosecution that Okoronta offered the teenager a ride after she got off the bus because her phone battery had expired.
But instead of going to Bradford Interchange as agreed, the cab went to his apartment, where he convinced her to enter before shutting her in and assaulting her.
The victim was able to flee the attack, stopped a bystander, and called the police using their phone.
In her ruling, Judge Sophie McKone called Okoronta a “dangerous sexual predator,” pointing out that he had planned the assault.
The judge declared, “I am satisfied that you had already devised a plan to get her back to your flat, where you could rape her, when you asked her if she wanted to share your taxi to Bradford.”
“You made up an excuse to let her into your apartment. McKone continued, “I am certain that you are a dangerous sexual predator.
Okoronta, who is originally from Nigeria, was ordered by the court to serve an extra three years on an extended license following his jail sentence.
After serving his term, he will be deported and put on the lifetime sex offenders registry.
The adolescent stated, “This incident has turned my life upside down,” in a victim impact statement that was presented to the court. I remember things that happened to me. I experience dreams; one minute I’m fine, then the next it all resurfaces.
The survivor’s bravery in coming forward was commended by West Yorkshire Police Detective Constable Sue Sutcliffe.
“I want to express my admiration for the victim’s tremendous bravery in immediately reporting this terrible act. Sutcliffe stated, “I implore anyone who has experienced sexual abuse to report it to us so that we can take appropriate action.”
