Teen girl stranded getting off bus after phone died before awful incident took place
"It turned my life upside down. Since, I have had multiple flashbacks of that night and nightmares."
A sick rapist who preyed on and attacked a teenager after she was left stranded has been jailed.
Chiemka Okoronta, 29, was among the last two passengers on a bus that disembarked at around 10.30pm on March 25. As reported by Yorkshire Live, the other was a 17-year-old girl who was told she would have to get a taxi back from Morley to Bradford to get home.
Seizing his opportunity, evil Okoronta offered to share a taxi with the teenager, and instead of telling the driver to go to Bradford centre like he claimed, directed him to his flat so he could carry out the attack.
Prosecutor Graham Dowling told Bradford Crown Court on Monday: "She got off the bus and attempted to call a friend for help but her phone battery had died and she told the defendant, who offered to share a taxi with her. She agreed and gave him her remaining money - £4.90 in cash.
"In the taxi, he chose to sit in the back with her and began making kissing gestures at her. The defendant has booked the taxi to his home address when she thought they were going to Bradford bus station.
"She got out and asked the defendant where it was. He said if she came inside there were others who would help her. Under the pretence of going to the toilet, he told her to come upstairs and then got her in the toilet, locked the door behind her and raped her."
After the attack, the girl managed to run and get help from passer-by's who gave her their phone to call 999.
Following a trial earlier this year, Okoronta was found guilty of three counts of rape and causing a women to engage in sexual activity. In a victim impact statement read to the court by Mr Dowling, the girl said: "It turned my life upside down. Since, I have had multiple flashbacks of that night and nightmares. Every now and then I have to go to the doctors for medication.
"I used to go on runs but now feel people are staring at me. If a car or a person goes past I just freeze and also when I see other men in the street. I don't go out as much as I used to. I used to love going to the gym, meeting people, doing things with my parents but I don't do these things anymore.
"I can't take a bus without feeling uncomfortable and avoid Bradford city centre now...When I have a shower flashbacks of what he did comes back. When this happens I will get upset and end up crying before going to sleep."
The girl said she is now in a relationship with someone who she started talking to just days before the attack. She said: "She has supported me through this and has been there ever since. When I was told he was found guilty it was a sigh of relief knowing he wouldn't be able to do this to anyone again."
Mitigating, Nicholas Leadbeater told the court a pre-sentence report had been undertaken by the Probation Service, in which Okoronta still denies the offence. He told the court: "I can't ask for any mitigation to be put forward by way of remorse. What I do have, I suggest, are two elements of mitigation.
"The first is his previous good character. The second of which I would say is that he had positive good character and exemplary conduct prior to the night in question."
The court heard that while he was living in Nigeria, Okoronta was the treasurer at a "large" youth club and had been invited to become president.
Her Honour Judge McKone handed Okoronta an extended sentence of 13 years, made up of 10 years in custody, of which he must serve two-thirds in custody before going before the Parole Board who will determine if he is safe to be released, and three years extended licence period.
She told him: "You knew she was a vulnerable person, miles from where she needed to be. You knew she needed to get to Bradford. She was 17 and had little money and her phone was dead. I'm satisfied when you asked her to share a taxi you formulated a plan to get her back to your address where you could rape her...
"This was a sustained incident. The complainant was clearly very vulnerable."
The court heard Okoronta will be deported once he has served his custodial sentence.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sue Sutcliffe of Bradford District Safeguarding Unit said: "Okoronta took advantage of his victim and lured her to his home forcing her to engage in sexual activity.
“I would like to commend the victim in this case for her immense bravery in coming forward straight away to report this horrific crime. Her swift actions meant a fast paced investigation. She said she felt a sense of relief when she found out Okoronta was convicted, I hope today’s sentence can give her some comfort in knowing he won’t be able to hurt anyone else.
“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence, to please report it to us so we can take action. We have specialist officers to support you throughout the process and bring perpetrators to justice.”