Nigerian man jailed in UK for Sexual assault on teen seeking baptism for cleansing

A Nigerian man, Emmanuel Onwubiko, has been sentenced to two years in prison in the United Kingdom for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old girl in Warrington.

The court heard that the teenager had turned to baptism in a desperate effort to feel clean again after enduring repeated assaults at the hands of Onwubiko.

Liverpool Crown Court was told that the incidents happened last year when the 35-year-old, residing on Derwent Road, Ashton, began harassing the young woman with inappropriate sexual advances. His actions escalated to groping her breast, bottom, and even grabbing her private part on two occasions. He also posed sexually suggestive questions to her, dismissing her discomfort by claiming that in Nigeria, such behaviour wouldn’t be reported.

Feeling terrified and traumatised, the victim locked herself in a bathroom and kept a running log of the assaults via text messages to a friend. She later fled to a family member’s house and reported the ordeal to the police. Onwubiko, who had come to the UK on a student visa that has since expired, was arrested but denied all allegations.

During the trial, the victim relived her harrowing experience before a jury. She later revealed in a moving statement how the assaults destroyed her mental health, causing anxiety, flashbacks, and a sense of helplessness. In her desperation, she sought out a church for immediate baptism in hopes of cleansing herself spiritually from the trauma.

The court also learned of an incident involving the victim’s father, who assaulted Onwubiko upon hearing of his daughter’s ordeal. The father, in a fit of rage, punched the convict several times, causing serious injuries, including a subdural haemorrhage. He was later handed an 18-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

Onwubiko, who is reportedly seeking a post-graduate visa to remain in the UK and settle debts back home, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. Additionally, a ten-year restraining order was issued, preventing him from contacting the victim.