A Nigerian student in the United Kingdom, Qudus Ajeyemi, has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison after he was convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault following an attack on a woman in Hull.
Ajeyemi, 27, popularly known by the nickname "Spartan," was found guilty after a six-day trial at Hull Crown Court.
At the time of the offence, which occurred in early 2023, he was living on May Street in Hull and was residing in the UK on a student visa.
According to evidence presented before the court, the victim had gone to a house on Tavistock Street after a night out. After consuming alcohol and feeling unwell, Ajeyemi reportedly offered her a room where she could rest.
However, prosecutors said the situation took a disturbing turn shortly after they got upstairs.
Prosecutor Charlotte Baines told the court that the woman believed Ajeyemi would leave her alone to sleep, but instead he began touching her without her consent.
“She pushed him off and told him: ‘I’m not here for that.’ Her response did not deter Spartan and he touched her again,” Baines told the court.
The victim reportedly managed to push him away before running downstairs in tears.
According to the prosecution, some of Ajeyemi's friends noticed her distress and asked what had happened, while Ajeyemi also came downstairs pretending not to know the cause of her emotional state.
Following the incident, Ajeyemi allegedly contacted the victim through FaceTime, where he admitted to his actions and repeatedly apologised. He also sent several follow-up messages asking for forgiveness.
The victim preserved the call records and messages before handing them over to police in March 2023, prompting an investigation by Humberside Police's Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.
In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered that Ajeyemi be deported to Nigeria after completing his jail term.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and issued a seven-year restraining order to protect the victim.
Detective Sergeant Ethan Anderson, who led the investigation, commended the victim for her courage in reporting the incident despite the emotional challenges involved.
“I want to start by commending the woman who came forward and reported what had happened to her. Reporting this type of crime is never easy, and she has displayed nothing but immense bravery and strength throughout the complex and lengthy process,” Anderson said.
He added that Ajeyemi took advantage of the victim while she was in a vulnerable state and described the emotional trauma caused by the attack as one that could remain with her for life.
The detective also noted that the defendant's refusal to admit responsibility during the legal proceedings prolonged the victim's ordeal by forcing her to endure a six-day trial.
Police reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing cases of rape and sexual violence and bringing offenders to justice.