A man who raped a woman so incapacitated she couldn’t move or speak has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.
Omar Okagbare, 32, or Holbourne Road, Blackheath, was found guilty of the two counts of rape and was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court today (Monday, February 6).
Police praised the woman’s ‘tremendous strength and courage’ and urged more victims of sexual offending to come forward.
Okagbare has also been added to the sex offenders register where he will remain indefinitely.
The court heard how Okagbare met his victim for the first time on January 31, 2020, after they exchanged messages on Instagram.
They planned to meet at a bar but decided to go to Okagbare’s house instead where they drank and smoked cannabis.
The woman started feeling unwell and went upstairs to the toilet where she was sick.
The court was told that Okagbare then helped her to the bedroom and raped her twice while she was unable to speak or move.
When she regained the ability to move, she left the address and alerted police.
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He was arrested days later on February 2, 2020, and charged with rape.
Officers collated forensic and video evidence which helped prove his guilt.
Detective Sergeant Dean Young of the South East Public Protection Team said: “Okagbare cruelly took advantage of this woman’s incapacity and raped her twice when she was in no position to consent.
“The woman he attacked has shown tremendous strength and courage in both reporting her ordeal to police and seeing this process through the courts. I hope Okagbare’s sentencing gives her some closure.
“I also hope this sends a strong message to those who have been a victim of sexual offending – please report this to police as we have specially trained officers who can support you and help put perpetrators behind bars.”