DAMOLA OLATEJU FROM WARRINGTON SENTENCED AFTER SHOCKING RAPE ATTEMPT IN LIVERPOOL
In December 2022, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Damola Olateju, a 37-year-old man from Warrington, whose actions have left a lasting impact on his victim and the local community.The case came to light after authorities uncovered a distressing video on Olateju's mobile phone, which played a crucial role in the subsequent legal proceedings.
According to court reports, the victim, a woman who was out with friends in Warrington Town Centre, had been socializing near the White Hart pub until approximately 11 pm.
Her recollections of that evening became increasingly unclear after that point, with her memory described as 'blurry' by the prosecution.
She remembered being in the Postern Gate area, attempting to hail a taxi, when she was approached by several men, including Olateju.
Her memories then shifted to being inside a flat, where she recalled being in the kitchen, drinking something, and later being in a bedroom.
She remembered a woman she spoke to in the bathroom and sitting on a couch, but her most traumatic memories involved being in the bed with someone else present.
She described feeling cold and trying to cover herself with a quilt, repeatedly saying 'no' and 'I'm cold.' These were the last clear memories she had of that night.
The following morning, she awoke alone in a bedroom, noticing her underwear was missing but her boots still on her feet.
As she searched for her phone and bag, she discovered an empty condom wrapper in the room.
Her phone and bag were found, but her phone's battery was dead, and the flat's door was locked.
She then shook Olateju awake, pleading to be let out.
Initially, he demanded to know where his phone was and wanted to search her bag.
The prosecution suggested that Olateju was aware of the contents on her phone and wanted to retain it.
Eventually, the woman identified Olateju's phone in the flat, which allowed her to leave and return home.
However, her injuries, including bruises on her legs and buttocks, became apparent the next night, leading her to fear she had been raped.
Her suspicions were confirmed when a man who had also attended the gathering contacted her via Snapchat, expressing concern about Olateju's behavior and asking if she was okay.
This prompted her to report the incident to the police.
Law enforcement traced Olateju and arrested him.
During the investigation, a deleted video file was recovered from his phone.
The footage provided graphic evidence of the assault, capturing the victim repeatedly saying 'no' and 'get off me,' while Olateju was seen trying to part her legs.
The video also included audio of Olateju telling her to 'shut the f*** up' and striking her twice in the face, causing her to cry out in pain.
Olateju claimed that the sexual activity was consensual and that he had slapped her because he believed she enjoyed rough sex.
He also stated that he had given up trying to have sex with her on that occasion and moved to another bedroom.
He was charged with two counts of rape and one of attempted rape, which he denied.
His trial at Liverpool Crown Court resulted in a mixed verdict: he was acquitted of the rape charges but found guilty of the attempted rape, based on the video evidence.
In her victim impact statement, the woman described suffering from anxiety, hopelessness, and difficulty trusting others following the assault.
Judge Stuart Driver, KC, delivered the sentence, noting that while there was no evidence Olateju had supplied her with alcohol, the video evidence was an aggravating factor.
Olateju, who appeared via video link from prison, was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
The judge also specified that Olateju must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole, emphasizing the severity of his actions and the lasting consequences for the victim.
