A 33-year-old man from Gloucester, Segun ‘Michael’ Ogundipe, has been imprisoned for five years following his conviction for serious sexual offences against a woman he met at her place of work in 2022. The case, investigated by Gloucestershire Constabulary, highlights the devastating impact of such crimes and the importance of victim support within the justice system.
The offences occurred after Ogundipe, originally from Nigeria and having arrived in the UK in 2021 to study, approached the woman during her shift. He invited her for a drink, and she agreed to meet him the following evening to get to know him better, explicitly stating her intentions via text. They went to a bar where Ogundipe's conversation turned sexual, causing her discomfort. He then suggested moving to another location and stopped at his home en route, claiming to retrieve an item. While there, after the woman used the bathroom, Ogundipe sexually assaulted her and raped her.
Subsequently, Ogundipe drove the woman towards an address in Cheltenham, continuing to touch her inappropriately despite her repeated protests. His erratic driving drew the attention of Gloucestershire Police officers on routine patrol, who stopped the vehicle. The distressed woman seized the moment to exit the car, initially telling officers she wished to visit a family member nearby and avoiding details of the assault. However, an officer followed her and she disclosed the rape. Ogundipe was arrested on suspicion of rape and later charged with two counts of sexual assault, assault by penetration, and rape.
At Gloucester Crown Court, Ogundipe denied the charges, claiming the woman had initiated and consented to the sexual activity. Following a trial in May 2025, a jury rejected his defence and found him guilty on all counts. Sentencing took place on 21 July 2025 before His Honour Judge Lowe, who considered Ogundipe's previously good character and positive references but deemed the offences grave. In addition to the five-year custodial sentence, Ogundipe faces deportation due to the seriousness of his crimes in the UK.
The victim's impact statement, read in court, powerfully conveyed the profound effects of the assault: 'It is still crazy to me to think how your words and your actions have made me question my worth entirely. Some days what you did to me plays over and over in my head. What you did was vile and one of the worst things you could do to someone. I spent so long believing that I must have deserved what you did to me but I know now that you had no right to the rights of my body. Every single part of my life paused. I had to leave my job, a job that I loved deeply because I couldn't cope. I became scared to meet new people, to even smile at someone out of fear that it would be taken the wrong way. I lost my spark and even now I'm still only starting to heal.' This testimony underscores the lasting trauma inflicted, as noted by investigating officer Detective Constable Jon Furse, who praised the victim's courage throughout the process.