A man from Nigeria, who had previously been imprisoned for a sexual assault, was not deported to safeguard his right to a family life. Gift Oladele, a 24-year-old Nigerian national, was recently convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in a wooded area in Wales last September.
In December 2022, he was sentenced to two years in prison for unlawfully confining a woman who feared sexual assault after he attacked her in broad daylight in Manchester. Despite a deportation order issued by the Home Office in 2023, Oladele successfully challenged the decision and went on to commit the rape, as reported by North Wales Live.
During the 2022 trial, the judge noted Oladele’s inappropriate views towards women and sense of entitlement, describing him as a dangerous offender with clever, devious, and manipulative traits. The Home Office initially ordered his deportation in January 2023, but Oladele appealed, citing human rights violations. The case went to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, which ruled in favor of Oladele, stating that the deportation order breached his protected rights.
Oladele had forcefully raped a young woman in Wrexham after dragging her into the woods following a night out. He menacingly warned her about trusting strangers following the assault. Following his recent conviction, he faces a lengthy prison sentence. The Home Office condemned the case as “absolutely horrific,” emphasizing that Oladele had managed to avoid deportation after his initial offense.
Born in Italy, Oladele arrived in the UK at the age of 11 with his mother and lived illegally in the country until 2018. Despite having a residence card expiring in 2024, his criminal activities led to a deportation order under the UK Borders Act 2007. Oladele argued for his right to a private life in the UK, citing family ties and potential challenges in Nigeria if deported.
After a tribunal hearing in December 2023, the judge determined that Oladele, although a foreign national, was socially and culturally integrated in the UK due to his upbringing there. Reports from a probation officer indicated low risk of reoffending. The judge found the deportation order disproportionate, considering Oladele’s rehabilitation efforts, private life in the UK, and potential risks in Nigeria.
The Home Office, while expressing sympathy for the victim, reiterated their commitment to removing foreign criminals from the UK promptly. Oladele is awaiting sentencing for the rape in the coming month.
