A shocking case of sexual assault has culminated in the conviction and sentencing of a former Nigerian model, Utseoritselaju Uwatse, to four years in prison.
The Central Criminal Court jury, presided over by Justice Paul Burns, delivered the verdict for the rape charge brought against Uwatse for an incident that occurred on April 20, 2018, in Ireland.
This development was reported by the IRISH Mirror on Monday, revealing the distressing details surrounding the case.
According to Detective Garda McGrath’s testimony, a group of college students gathered for a casual gathering at Cratloe Student Village before venturing into Limerick City for a night out.
Among them was the victim, who later recounted in her evidence that the group visited Smyth’s pub and subsequently Molloy’s late bar in Limerick, where she unexpectedly encountered Uwatse, whom she knew from social circles.
CCTV footage presented during the trial captured the moment when Uwatse and the victim embraced each other on that fateful night. However, the events that followed took a deeply disturbing turn.
As revealed in court proceedings, Uwatse allegedly carried the victim into a bedroom and laid her on the bed. The victim recalled fragments of the incident, including Uwatse removing her shoes before she fell asleep. When she woke up early the next morning, she sensed that something was amiss with her clothing, and to her dismay, she discovered Uwatse lying beside her.
In a disconcerting exchange, Uwatse asked the victim if she was on contraception, a question that raised red flags for her.
Eventually, he revealed that they had engaged in sexual intercourse and claimed that the condom had broken.
Overwhelmed and distressed, the victim realized that she had not consented to this encounter.
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the court, ultimately leading to Uwatse’s conviction and subsequent four-year prison sentence.
Justice Paul Burns, while delivering the verdict, emphasized the severity of the crime and the need to ensure justice for the victim.
