A TAXI driver has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually assaulting a college student in Galway last year.
Tope Adejuyigbe (36), a single man from Nigeria, of Sandyview Drive, Riverside, Galway, had during his trial in March denied sexually assaulting the then 19-year-old NUIG student early on February 24th, 2010.
He remains unrepentant and blames the victim for the fact he is now in custody, according to a probation report handed into court yesterday at his sentencing hearing.
The young woman was accompanied in court by her parents and a large group of friends. “He took my freedom away from me, the child within, and I never want to see him again,” she sobbed.
Judge Raymond Groarke said that while this was not the worst case of sexual assault to come before the court, it was a serious offence in that Adejuyigbe had abused his position of trust as a taxi driver to commit the offence.
“He used his occupation in order to feed his appetite for violence and degrading acts on young females. He used it to prey on his victims. He was made welcome in this country for eight years and he repays that welcome by committing this crime.”
Judge Groarke noted from the probation report that Adejuyigbe felt no remorse for his victim and had no insight into the harm his actions had caused. “He blames the victim and it’s all about himself.”
The judge placed the accused on the sex offenders’ register for life and recommended that he be deported immediately back to Nigeria on his release.