BLACKROD PASTOR STEPHEN OJO SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR RAPE OF TEENAGER IN BOLTON

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community, Stephen Ojo, a man who claimed to serve as a religious leader, was convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving a teenage girl in Bolton. The incident, which spanned over several years, revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming, manipulation, and sexual assault that culminated in a six-day trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Ojo, aged 59 and residing on Manchester Road in Blackrod, was found guilty of five counts of rape and five counts of sexual activity with a child. The jury, after carefully considering the evidence presented, reached a unanimous verdict condemning his actions. The court heard that Ojo had initially befriended the girl’s family, presenting himself as a trusted figure within the community, which allowed him to gain her confidence and access.

The abuse began in 2014 when Ojo started by asking the 14-year-old girl for hugs and attempting to kiss her. Despite her efforts to pull away, he reassured her with phrases like “It’s okay” and warned her not to tell anyone about what was happening. The situation escalated when, on another occasion, he kissed her and forcibly inserted his tongue into her mouth while she was trying to retrieve her Bible from a table. The prosecuting attorney, David Bentley, described how Ojo’s inappropriate conduct became more frequent and invasive over time.

According to the evidence, Ojo would actively seek out the girl for physical contact, turning what initially appeared to be minor gestures into a campaign of sexual abuse. Within a year, the abuse had become a weekly occurrence, with Ojo raping her in what was described as a systematic and calculated campaign. The court was told that he would often contact her via mobile phone, instructing her to meet him so he could carry out further abuse. These encounters sometimes took place after he collected her from school in his car, driving her to secluded, dark locations off the main roads where he would undress her and commit the assaults.

One particularly disturbing incident involved Ojo raping the girl after she read him a verse from the Bible. The abuse reached a climax in 2016 when he called her to come to him, raped her, and then instructed her to delete her call logs to hide his involvement. Following this, the girl tried to avoid any contact with Ojo, but her efforts were interrupted when she confided in a male friend about her suspicions. This disclosure led to an investigation by the police, which uncovered the extent of Ojo’s crimes against her.

During the trial, the court also heard that Ojo’s misconduct extended to another, younger girl, whom he had also inappropriately touched and kissed. The victim, feeling confused and unsure about her experiences, sought advice from a friend, which ultimately led to her school becoming aware of the abuse. The police investigation confirmed the allegations against Ojo, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior.

When arrested, Ojo, who holds a Dutch passport, denied all allegations. He appeared in court with his hands covering his face as Judge Timothy Stead delivered the sentence. The judge criticized Ojo’s false claims of being a religious minister, noting that there was no concrete evidence of any official religious position or qualification. He stated, “You present yourself as being a lay minister. You have said that you are a pastor and you have taken on religious duties with the community. I have not seen any firm evidence that that is your official position or qualification.”

Judge Stead emphasized that Ojo used his claimed religious role as a cover for his predatory actions, carefully grooming his victims over months and even years. The judge described his conduct as meticulously planned, not driven by momentary lust but by a calculated desire to exploit and harm vulnerable young girls. The psychological damage inflicted was profound, and the judge made it clear that Ojo’s actions warranted a lengthy custodial sentence.

Concluding his remarks, Judge Stead stated that Ojo posed a significant danger to the public and was therefore sentenced to an extended term of 18 years in prison, with an additional four years on license. The court’s decision reflects the severity of his crimes and the need to protect the community from further harm.