By Desire Emmanuel
A Nigerian living in the United Kingdom who attempted to rape and sexually assault a woman in a place she was supposed to feel safe has been given a custodial sentence, handed a seven-year restraining order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
According to the Humberside Police in a statement on its website on Tuesday, June 16, the Nigerian, Qudus Ajeyemi, 27-years-old, of May Street in Hull, was found guilty of attempted rape and sexual assault following a week-long trial that concluded at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday, May 26.
He was remanded into custody to await sentencing which took place on Monday, June 15, where he was given five years and six months behind bars and he will be deported upon conclusion of his sentence.
His journey to prison began in March 2023 when officers received an online report from a woman that she had been on a night out a few weeks earlier, and once returning to a property on Tavistock Street in Hull, she was escorted to a room by a man she identified as “Spartan” whom she had only met briefly once before and did not know his full name.
She disclosed how she thought he was just assisting her by taking her to a friend’s room to rest, thinking he would leave. However, instead, he took advantage of her by touching her, and while his advances were rebuffed, he proceeded to force himself upon her and attempted to rape her.
She reported that the following day, he called her to apologise for what he did, and the victim recorded the conversation, which was key evidence at the trial.
Detectives from the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit of the Humberside Police were assigned to investigate the incident, identifying “Spartan” as Qudus Ajeyemi.
Ajeyemi was subsequently arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and was interviewed where he denied attempting to rape the victim despite the recording of his admission being played to him.
Detective, Sergeant Ethan Anderson, leading the investigation from the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, added: “I want to start by commending the woman who came forward and reported what had happened to her; reporting this type of crime is never easy and she has displayed nothing but immense bravery and strength throughout the complex and lengthy process; from reporting the incident through to his sentencing.
“Ajeyemi preyed on the woman, taking advantage of her and attempted to rape her in a space she ought to have been safe in, around friends.
“The trauma and emotional damage he caused will undoubtably stay with her for the rest of her life. The impact of this ordeal was only magnified by Ajeyemi’s refusal to admit what he had done, delaying the outcome for the victim and forcing her to endure a gruelling six-day trial.
“We take all reports of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to work relentlessly to take offenders like Ajeyemi off our streets.
“Specialist trained officers work closely with partner agencies across our force area to support victims and survivors, alongside aiding in preventing further incidents by putting perpetrators before the courts.”
