A
rapist, who claimed deporting him from the United Kingdom would breach his
human rights, Ekene Anoliefo, will be sent home to Nigeria after losing an
appeal against the order.
Mr
Justice Blake said the public interest in getting “dangerous sexual predator”
Anoliefo, 38, out of the country far outweighed his right to respect for his
private life.
Anoliefo
was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to nine, in May 2009 after he was convicted
of the brutal rape of a 19-year-old, who he held captive in his car after
pretending to help her.
The
Nigerian computing student drove the young woman to his Aberdeen flat, forced
her onto a bed and raped her in what the sentencing judge described as
“particularly brutal and degrading” circumstances.
He was
ordered for deportation last December and now, after an appeal to the Upper
Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, has failed in his human rights’ bid
to be allowed to stay.
Anoliefo’s
lawyers had argued that he had lawfully lived in the UK for four years as a
student and had hoped to be granted indefinite leave to remain once he finished
his studies and found a job.
But
rejecting his appeal, Mr Justice Blake said a more substantial private life
would need to be shown in a case where someone had not previously had
indefinite leave to stay in the country.
“It is
unfortunate that permission to appeal was granted, since this appeal is wholly
without merit,” he said.
“It is
obvious that, where a claimant has been convicted of rape and the conviction
upheld on appeal, no properly self-directing judge could have done other than
to have dismissed the appeal on the basis that the public interest manifestly
outweighed it.”
In
sentencing Anoliefo to a 12-year jail term, which was later reduced to nine
years, Lord Pentland said: “You are, in my judgment, a dangerous and determined
sexual predator who has not the slightest respect for women.”
Passing
sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge said he had to reflect
society’s abhorrence.
Anoliefo
listened through an interpreter as defence QC Donald MacLeod told how he had
brought shame on his wealthy family.
His
father is a politician in his local state parliament, the court heard, and had
paid for Anoliefo to come to Scotland to study computer technology to prepare
him for a career in the Nigerian oil industry.
Mr
MacLeod also told the court that Anoliefo still maintained he was innocent
although a jury had found him guilty.
Lord
Pentland said: “You stand convicted of a series of incidents involving the
assault, molestation and harassment of six women and a female child in the
streets of Aberdeen over a period extending from the autumn of 2007 to the
summer of 2008.
“In
addition to these serious offences, you have been convicted of the cruel and
degrading rape of a young woman whom you detained against her will in your car
after you had pretended to help her late at night.
“The
sentence I impose must reflect the abhorrence that society feels towards persons
like you who prey on women in this way and who are willing to resort to
violence and rape for their own sexual gratification.”
He
added: “I note that you have not, at any stage, expressed the slightest degree
of remorse or empathy for your victims.”
The
judge said he would also recommend a deportation order due to the gravity of
the crimes.
Grampian
Police Det Sgt Neil Kennedy, the officer in charge of the investigation, said:
“This sentence sends a clear message to those prepared to commit these appalling
and cowardly crimes.
“The
witnesses in this case behaved with great courage after being traumatised by
these crimes.
“They
will take comfort from the fact that he will be deported at the end of his
sentence.”
The nation
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