Migrant who raped teenager in North Wales after avoiding deportation jailed for 17 years

A Nigerian national who had previously avoided deportation due to a human rights ruling has been jailed for 17 years after raping a teenager in North Wales.

Conviction in Wrexham

Gift Oladele, 24, who was born in Italy, was convicted after dragging a 19-year-old woman into woodland in Wrexham. Following the attack, Oladele told the victim, “this will teach you a lesson not to trust strangers.”

Prior History and Deportation Ruling

Oladele was already known to authorities, having served a two-year sentence in 2022 for the false imprisonment of a woman in Manchester. During that trial, Judge Conrad KC labeled him a “dangerous offender” and described him as “clever, devious and manipulative.”

In January 2023, the Home Office ordered Oladele’s deportation. However, he successfully appealed the decision through the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, arguing that he had never visited Nigeria and would face “insurmountable obstacles” if returned there.

The tribunal ultimately ruled that removing Oladele would violate Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life. Judge Simpson noted that while there was a “strong public interest” in deporting foreign criminals, Oladele’s rehabilitation and his status as a “complete outsider” in Nigeria were sufficiently compelling to outweigh those interests.

This legal decision allowed Oladele to remain in the UK, where he subsequently committed the rape in Wrexham.

Home Office Response

Following the latest conviction, a Home Office spokesperson called the case “absolutely horrific” and expressed sympathy for the victim. The spokesperson emphasized that foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in “zero doubt” that the government will aim to remove them from the UK at the earliest opportunity.

The Home Office further stated that the Home Secretary has announced sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration to make the UK less attractive for illegal migrants and to streamline the removal process.