A Nigerian national named Lazarus Olleh, who lured an 18-year-old girl to a flat and sexually assaulted her, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the UK. The 38-year-old taxi driver, who was not a licensed taxi driver, will face deportation after serving his sentence. Olleh had been in the UK for approximately six weeks when he targeted the victim in Hull during the early hours of October 29, 2022.
According to reports, Olleh parked his car in a taxi rank outside the Propaganda nightclub and convinced the young woman, who had been attending a Halloween-themed event and was intoxicated, to enter his vehicle. Despite denying the rape allegations, a jury at Hull Crown Court found him guilty. A previous jury had been unable to reach a verdict.
Prosecutor Jeremy Evans stated that Olleh "drove her a short distance, parked up in what turned out to be a short walk from his friend's flat on Whitefriargate." He continued by describing how Olleh essentially coerced the woman due to her inebriation, stating that he was "preying upon a drunken woman."
After the incident, the victim was awakened by another man and was later assisted to a car. Olleh asked for her phone number, and she provided a false one. DNA tests confirmed sexual contact between Olleh and the woman.
In his defense, Olleh maintained his innocence, with his lawyer Liam Gregory stating that he still believed he was not guilty of the offense. However, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Judge Mark Bury, who emphasized the victim's inability to consent due to her intoxicated state. The judge also mentioned the severe psychological harm suffered by the victim.
Judge Bury added, "You are a Nigerian national, and that means that you will be deported at the end of your sentence." Olleh displayed no emotion as he was taken into custody.
Detective Constable Ethan Anderson of Humberside Police, who investigated the case, emphasized Olleh's danger to women and praised the victim's courage in coming forward to report the incident. Olleh was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
In another development, a young girl, aged 15, who lost her life in a tragic stabbing incident on her way to school, has been identified as Elianne Andam. See detailed story here
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