A security officer working at the Heaven nightclub in London has been acquitted of charges accusing him of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in his vehicle during his shift.
Morenikeji Adewole, a 47-year-old from Dartford, Kent, faced allegations of raping the woman in the rear seat of his car, which occurred near the venue while she was inebriated in the early hours of November 1 of the previous year.
According to testimony presented during the trial at Southwark Crown Court, the woman had waited for about two hours in line with five friends for a Halloween event but was refused entry due to her level of intoxication.
Afterward, Adewole escorted her away from the club’s entrance, then picked her up in his car and took her to a quiet street known as Adelphi Terrace, where they engaged in sexual intercourse.
Following about six and a half hours of deliberation, a jury composed of eight men and four women delivered a unanimous not guilty verdict on both charges of rape and attempted rape on Friday.
As the verdicts were announced, Adewole became emotional, shedding tears in the courtroom.
During the trial, Adewole acknowledged that there was sexual activity with the complainant; however, he asserted that he did not engage in penetrative sex with her. He claimed that although she initially stated she was 25, she later mentioned she was 19, prompting him to “stop immediately.”
After the verdict was pronounced, Judge Martin Griffith addressed Adewole, stating he should feel “absolutely ashamed” for taking advantage of a woman who was intoxicated.
The judge emphasized that Adewole’s responsibility was to ensure the safety of the club’s patrons, yet he chose to leave with the woman in his car, illustrating a lapse in judgment driven by his desires.
Adewole had obtained employment at the club using a fake ID, working under the name Olusola Julius Alabi, despite being in the UK on a five-year tourist visa that prohibited him from working.
He had previously admitted guilt to two offenses related to possession of an identification document with improper intent.
The judge imposed concurrent six-month prison sentences for each offense, noting that Adewole had already served this time while in custody awaiting the outcome of his trial.
