'Dangerous sexual predator' who raped teen jailed

Chiemka Okoronta, 29, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Bradford Crown Court

A "dangerous sexual predator" who raped a stranded teenage bus passenger in West Yorkshire has been jailed for 10 years.

Chiemka Okoronta and the 17-year-old girl were on board a night service unexpectedly terminated in Morley, Leeds, with both requiring transport home to Bradford on 25 March.

The 29-year-old postgraduate student tricked her into sharing a taxi before luring her into his accommodation and attacking her in a locked toilet, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Okoronta, who was convicted of multiple rape offences, was told he was likely to be deported following his sentence.

Okoronta, originally from Nigeria, must also serve three years on extended licence and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The court heard the teenager's phone died after alighting the bus, with Okoronta offering to share a taxi to Bradford Interchange.

Prosecutor Graham O'Sullivan said the vehicle instead went to the defendant's flat, with the teenager persuaded to go inside and subsequently locked inside a toilet.

Following the attack, the girl stopped a passer-by outside and use their phone to call police.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the girl said: "This incident has turned my life upside down.

"I have flashbacks of what happened to me, I have nightmares - one minute I feel fine and the next minute it all comes back."

Judge Sophie McKone told Okoronta: "I am satisfied that when you asked if she wanted to share your taxi to Bradford you formulated a plan that would get her back to your flat where you could rape her.

"You concocted a reason for her to come into your flat."

She added: "You are, I am clear, a dangerous sexual predator."

Det Con Sue Sutcliffe, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "I would like to commend the victim in this case for her immense bravery in coming forward straight away to report this horrific crime.

"I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence, to please report it to us so we can take action."

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