A stranger grabbed a lone victim from behind in in a "sexually motivated" attack described by a judge as "every woman's worst nightmare".
Gift Oladele, 21, followed and set upon the woman as she walked on a path to an optician's appointment in Middleton. The woman screamed and feared she'd be raped as Oladele kept hold of her for "what felt like a lifetime", Manchester Crown Court heard.
The vulnerable victim managed to break free before the attacker fled the scene. Oladele, of Orchid Street, Manchester, was arrested the following day, initially telling police he "just wanted to get it on with her" and to "chat her up".
"It was a terrifying experience for her and it must represent every woman's worst nightmare," Judge Alan Conrad KC told the court. He added: "She felt you were going to rape her."
Judge Conrad KC jailed Oladele for two years yesterday (December 12) after being found guilty of false imprisonment following a trial last month. He told the 21-year-old he has "inappropriate attitudes towards women with a sense of entitlement" after the attack in Middleton on the morning of May 17.
She was on her way to an appointment in Middleton and had been walking along Wood Street before walking onto a narrow path behind a row of houses. It was a path she had used many times and was "entitled to feel safe on," Judge Alan Conrad KC told the court, before Oladele began following her.
Oladele initially kept some distance from her before running and grabbing her from behind. The woman immediately screamed and he ran to a friends house where he was sweating, according to the friend.
Judge Conrad KC also told him that Oladele had waited until no-one was around to grab her and she was a "vulnerable" victim. He added: "You described it yourself (pathway) as dodgy. I find this offence was sexually motivated towards someone you were attracted to," Judge Conrad KC said.
He added that Oladele was a young man with "inappropriate attitudes towards women with a sense of entitlement". Judge Conrad KC revealed to the court that Oladele had sent a letter soon before this sentencing admitting his guilt and saying he was under the influence of cannabis at the time. But, he does not accept Oladele's attitudes to women have now changed.
"We live in times of heightened anxiety for women on their own and it is vital they can be safe and custodial sentences must follow," Judge Conrad KC concluded, sentencing Oladele to two years in prison. In mitigation, Amanda Johnson, had asked the judge to pass a suspended sentence as Oladele has already spent seven months in custody and has "learned his lesson".
The judge said during Ms Johnson's mitigation that Oladele has claimed he fears being attacked in prison and "flinches when he is tapped on the shoulder" from behind. She added that he is of previously good character and is "well thought of".
The woman bravely spoke at the trial and at the sentencing, describing the impact the attack has had on her life. She said: " The whole incident has had an incredibly traumatic impact on my life. I am unsure I will be able to ever feel normal again.
"I don’t know if I should be happy that nothing more serious happened because I still feel totally violated and sick to my stomach. I keep having thoughts about what could have been.
"I am so angry he has made me feel this way. Having to go through it all again (at court) broke me. Me and my family should have never been put in this position by the defendant. I’m trying to put it behind me but to be honest I don’t think I ever will."
Nicola Wells, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Gift Oladele carried out a disturbing and terrifying attack upon a lone woman in broad daylight. His actions were predatory; he preyed on her and pounced when she was on an isolated path. He thought he could get away with it, but the strong CCTV evidence meant the police were able to identify him.
“I would like to commend this brave woman’s immense courage and quick thinking in fighting off her attacker and standing up to him during this trial. Her actions have no doubt saved other women from the danger he clearly poses to women in society.”
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