SEXUAL PREDATOR WHO TRIED TO RAPE WOMAN AFTER NIGHT OUT IN HULL IS JAILED
A ruthless sexual predator attempted to assault a woman after she had been drinking in Hull city centre.During a video call, he admitted that his actions were completely "wrong." The woman and he, along with others, had been out celebrating and later returned to a house.
While there, he took advantage of her intoxicated state and touched her intimately.
After the night out, she went upstairs to sleep.
When she tried to push him away, she told him, "I'm not here for that," but he continued regardless, as the Hull Crown Court heard.
Qudus Ajeyemi, aged 27, who was previously based on May Street off Beverley Road in Hull but has recently been residing in Manchester, denied attempting to rape the woman.
However, after eight hours and thirty-six minutes of jury deliberation, he was convicted by a majority of 10 to 2.
The jury unanimously found him guilty of sexual assault.
Charlotte Baines, the prosecutor, explained during the trial that Ajeyemi—also known as Spartan—and others had been invited to a "party" night out involving a club in Hull.
Later, Ajeyemi and the woman returned to a house.
She had only met him once before and was unaware of how much she had drunk, eventually becoming ill in the bathroom.
She then sat on a sofa downstairs, and Ajeyemi suggested she go upstairs for a nap.
"Spartan led her upstairs and she lay down on the bed," Miss Baines stated.
She initially thought he would leave her there to sleep.
However, within moments, Spartan started touching her arm and then moved to her thigh.
She pushed him away and told him, "I'm not here for that," but he did not stop and continued to touch her.
He went up her dress and forcibly removed her underwear.
She told him to stop, saying, "Stop.
Don't touch me." She saw that Ajeyemi had also taken down his trousers and boxer shorts.
He then grabbed her thighs, holding her down, and she attempted to resist by grabbing him, but he pushed her off the bed.
She managed to grab her underwear and ran downstairs.
Sitting on the sofa in the living room, she began to cry.
Some of Spartan’s friends asked her what was wrong.
Spartan himself then entered the room and asked her what was wrong, despite knowing what he had done.
She was later taken home and confided in a friend about what had happened.
She asked for Ajeyemi's phone number and requested a FaceTime call.
During the call, Ajeyemi started with an apology.
She confronted him about his behaviour and called him out on it.
He responded, "I admit everything that happened.
Everything.
I admit it.
I am wrong.
I did something that was very wrong," acknowledging the sexual assault and attempted rape.
Following this, he sent her messages apologising and asking for forgiveness.
The woman did not report the incident immediately, fearing she might jeopardise Ajeyemi's immigration status as an international student.
Eventually, she decided to come forward because she believed, "I think I need to say something because he might do it to someone else." A police investigation was launched.
Ajeyemi was interviewed in December 2023, during which he claimed they had gone upstairs because she was tired, and that they had kissed and cuddled on the bed.
He stated that when he asked if they could take things further, she said “No,” and he respected her decision.
He denied trying to rape her.
The woman’s account was found to be truthful, and there was no false allegation, prosecutors said.
"The evidence is compelling and reliable," Miss Baines affirmed.
Defence lawyer Rachel Scott acknowledged that, given the guilty verdicts, there was limited mitigation since Ajeyemi had fought and lost his trial, understanding that prison was unavoidable.
Originally from Nigeria, Ajeyemi came to the UK to pursue better education.
His incarceration now puts him at risk of deportation.
He has no prior convictions and previously resided in Manchester.
He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, with an obligation to register as a sex offender indefinitely, and was also issued a seven-year restraining order.
