UK Court Convicts Nigerian Postgraduate Student of Sexual Offence; Deportation to Follow
A Nigerian postgraduate student resident in the United Kingdom, Chiemka Okoronta, has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the Bradford Crown Court for the rape of a teenage girl. Upon completion of his custodial term, he will be deported to Nigeria.
According to proceedings reported by the BBC and other UK media outlets, the incident occurred on 25 March 2025 when the victim, a teenager, became stranded after a night bus service terminated unexpectedly in Morley, Leeds, while both she and the defendant were en route to Bradford.
The prosecution established that the victim’s phone battery had died, and Okoronta offered to share a taxi. Instead of proceeding to Bradford Interchange, the taxi diverted to his residence, where he lured the victim inside and confined her in a locked toilet before committing the assault.
The victim managed to escape afterwards, sought help from a passerby, and contacted the police. She reported the incident immediately, leading to Okoronta’s swift arrest and prosecution.
In her victim impact statement, the teenager described the psychological trauma, stating that the assault had “turned my life upside down,” leaving her with flashbacks and nightmares.
Delivering judgment, Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone held that the defendant had premeditated the offence, noting: “I am satisfied that when you asked if she wanted to share your taxi to Bradford, you formulated a plan to get her back to your flat, where you could rape her… You are, I am clear, a dangerous sexual predator.”
The court further ordered that Okoronta serve an additional three years on extended licence following his release and that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
Detective Constable Sue Sutcliffe of the West Yorkshire Police commended the victim’s courage in reporting the crime promptly, urging other survivors of sexual offences to come forward so that offenders can be prosecuted.
This case adds to a growing number of convictions involving Nigerians abroad for sexual offences. In a related matter in 2024, another Nigerian, Timilehin Olatunji, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in the UK after being convicted of a similar offence, supported by audio evidence recorded by the victim.
