KEITH OGUNSOLA FROM BANSTEAD AND CARSHALTON FACES LONG JAIL SENTENCE OVER ILFORD SCHOOLGIRL RAPE CASE

In a series of disturbing criminal proceedings, Keith Ogunsola, a science teacher with connections to Banstead, Carshalton, and Ilford, has been found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses involving underage girls. The case, which has garnered significant attention, reveals a pattern of predatory behavior spanning several years and locations.

Ogunsola, aged 47 and a married father of three, was accused of grooming and repeatedly assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The abuse began in 2001, when he lured her to various hotels around the country, including a notable incident at a hotel in Croydon. It was during this time that he forcibly took her virginity, an act that marked the start of three years of terror and manipulation. The court heard that Ogunsola subjected his young victim to psychological intimidation, instructing her to wear skirts without underwear to facilitate their sexual encounters.

Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters detailed how Ogunsola exploited the girl’s fear and confusion, convincing her that no one would believe her if she reported the abuse. The situation worsened when, after she confided in him about her desire for a boyfriend, Ogunsola responded with violence, ripping off her clothes and raping her again. The court was told that this pattern of abuse was not an isolated incident, as Ogunsola had a history of inappropriate conduct with students.

Indeed, records showed that Ogunsola had previously been involved in similar misconduct. In 2008, he was accused of grabbing a 14-year-old pupil and forcibly sticking his tongue in her mouth while they were in his school office. The girl described her experience, stating, “He put his arms around my waist and said ‘do you want a kiss?’ Then he pulled me close and put his tongue in my mouth. He was holding my wrists.”

Further allegations revealed that Ogunsola had asked girls in his chemistry class whether they had performed oral sex, indicating a pattern of inappropriate behavior. Despite these prior warnings, including a reprimand from the headteacher at his school, Ogunsola continued to engage in misconduct. He was cleared of two sexual assault charges in 2000 and another in 2006 at different schools, but these incidents underscored a troubling history of inappropriate conduct with female students.

In a separate incident in September 2009, Ogunsola, then aged 44, was involved in an incident where he French-kissed a 14-year-old girl and questioned pupils about their sexual activities. This behavior occurred at schools in Carshalton and Essex, where he was employed as a science teacher. Although he was initially warned that he could face imprisonment, a court in Snaresbrook ultimately sentenced him to a 12-week suspended jail term after considering medical reports indicating a heart condition. Judge Martin Zeidman emphasized that Ogunsola’s actions, while serious, did not warrant a custodial sentence, and he was explicitly barred from working with minors again.

The court acknowledged the bravery of the victims who came forward, with Judge Zeidman praising the young girl who made the complaint, describing her as “a very impressive young lady.” The legal proceedings also revealed that Ogunsola was convicted of a sexual attack in Ilford, Essex, last year, but was acquitted of attempted sexual assault at the same school in 2006. Additionally, he was cleared of two indecent assaults on teenage girls at a school in Carshalton between January and May 2000.

Throughout the trial, it was disclosed that the former headteacher of the Carshalton school had previously warned Ogunsola about his inappropriate conduct with female pupils. Despite denying any molestation, Ogunsola claimed that the students’ behavior was disruptive and a “nightmare.” As a result of his convictions, Ogunsola has been banned indefinitely from working with girls under 18 and has been ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, marking a significant step in addressing his pattern of misconduct.