Opemipo Jaji

Opemipo Jaji, then aged 18, committed a heinous sexual offence against an 11-year-old schoolgirl in Enfield, London, in 2013. The incident occurred as the girl was making her way home from school after disembarking from a bus. Jaji, who had been on the same bus following a probation appointment, began following her, prompting the frightened girl to cross the road three times and eventually run. However, Jaji caught up with her, grabbed her, and forcibly took her to a secluded area of Jubilee Park where he raped her over the course of three hours.

During the trial at the Old Bailey, Jaji denied the rape charge but later admitted to committing the offence prior to his sentencing. The court heard evidence of Jaji's prior convictions, including the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl and the making of indecent images of a child. Old Bailey judge Mr Justice Singh described Jaji as 'manipulative and a liar' and determined that only an indefinite prison sentence could protect the public from him. Consequently, Jaji was jailed for life with a minimum term of eight years.

A pre-sentence report highlighted the escalation in Jaji's offending behaviour, stating: 'There is a clear escalation of seriousness in Jaji’s pattern of offending. This is now his third conviction for a sexual offence. In my view this offence indicates that Jaji has become increasingly confident and predatory in his behaviour and there is clear evidence of a serious escalation in his risk. In Jaji’s offending history there are indicators of recklessness, significant risk taking, predatory behaviour and preying on vulnerable young girls. It has also been voyeuristic and opportunistic in nature.'

In late 2025, Jaji, now 30, appealed his life sentence at the Court of Appeal, arguing that it was 'manifestly excessive' due to media attention and racial bias. He claimed the judge had not sufficiently considered his personal mitigation and that an extended sentence would have been adequate for public protection. The appeal was heard by Lord Justice Holgate, Mrs Justice McGowan DBE, and Her Honour Judge Moreland, who rejected Jaji's arguments and upheld the original sentence, concluding it was not manifestly excessive.

The case was reported by Josh Bolton, court and crime reporter for London Now, drawing on details from the Old Bailey trial and the Court of Appeal proceedings. The offence took place within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Service in Greater London.