Man (23) sexually assaulted woman after stalking teen girl as she walked home

Sunday World

6 hours ago

Their attacker had arrived in Ireland just two months before the incidents which occurred in broad daylight last summer
The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court.
A 23-year-old man stalked a teenage girl as she walked home hours before he sexually assaulted an older woman near Dundalk town centre, a circuit court sentence hearing has been told.
Their attacker had arrived in Ireland just two months before the incidents which occurred in broad daylight last summer.
Oladipupo Awolaja, with an address at the time at Beacon Court, Coe's Road, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to charges of stalking and sexual assault on July 13, 2024.
He has previous convictions in his native Netherlands, including two for sexual assault.
The court heard that he came to Ireland with a 'vague plan' to find work.
Mr Awolaja, who had the assistance of a Dutch interpreter, has been in custody since he was arrested by Gardaí on July 16.
It was noted that the offence of stalking was relatively new in this country, having come into effect on November 1, 2023, following the commencement of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023.
Judge Dara Hayes said that these were serious offences which crossed the custodial threshold as he adjourned finalisation of the case until Thursday.
Gda Nicole McGovern gave evidence that as the 15-year-old and her younger sister walked home she noticed a man following as they walked past Londis in Quay Street, Dundalk.
Such was her concern she twice crossed the road. When she sped up, he matched her pace. She was nervous and worried.
Another man noticed what was going on. He initially thought the three people were together before he decided to follow. The two girls eventually went into the garden of a house. There was no direct contact with the accused.
The man followed Awolaja who ran away. This person then returned to the house and spoke to the girls' parents.
Later that day at 7pm a 27-year-old woman was followed from Crowe Street into Jocelyn Street and onto Jocelyn Drive as she walked home from work.
In Jocelyn Drive the victim felt someone grab her bottom with both hands.
When she turned around a man grabbed her upper arm to stop her moving before grabbing her crotch over the clothing. She tried to break free.
A male cyclist caused the attacker to run away. He was chased by two other passers-by but managed to escape.
CCTV footage was obtained during the investigation of each incident.
Two days later, on July 15, Gda McGovern said that while on patrol with a colleague she saw a man matching a description given acting suspiciously.
They spoke to him. He appeared 'extremely nervous'. He provided his details.
As the CCTV canvass began they were able to identify the defendant as the man they had spoken to.
The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 8th
Oladipupo Awolaja was arrested the next day when Gardaí got a search warrant for a residence in Beacon Court where he was staying with family friends. He was present at the time. Items of clothing were seized.
He made no admissions during interview. He denied being in Jocelyn Drive, said the clothing wasn't his and denied stalking.
The accused was brought in Garda custody to Dundalk Court on July 17 where he was refused bail.
There were no previous convictions in Ireland but 16 previous convictions at district court level in the Netherlands, including two for sexual assault and one for each of causing minor bodily injury and causing grievous bodily injury as well as for threats and drugs offences.
Neither injured party was present at the hearing. Their Victim Impact Statements were read into the record.
The 27-year-old lady said that when the assault happened she couldn't scream. Nothing came out.
'It lasted no longer than 30 seconds but those seconds changed my life forever.'
She felt so alone and isolated.
"It makes me feel hopeless as a woman every time I go out.'
It was just her and her husband in Ireland. They lived here to work and save.
She changed her job and now worked with her husband. They took the same day off together.
The teenager said that she was afraid to walk alone. This went on for seven months.
She was still very suspicious and 'scared to walk alone in the town I grew up in'. She rarely walked alone.
Senior counsel John Berry, instructed by solicitor Niall Breen, said that he was not seeking minimise what occurred.
To be grabbed by a stranger on the street had to be an extraordinarily scary experience.
The stalking was scary, particularly in light of the age of the victim.
Mr Berry submitted that both offences were 'at the lower end of the spectrum'.
The defendant had spent almost a year in custody. He instructed that he had no desire to remain in Ireland and wished to return to Holland where he was born and grew up and where there was a support structure for him.
Mr Awolaja had come to Ireland with a 'vague plan'.
A probation report assessed him at high risk of reoffending.
Counsel said that there was also a separate charge of affray against him, allegedly committed the month before this.
Judge Hayes remarked that these were serious offences.
The stalking lasted for several minutes on a Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, it drew another man's attention. He would 'undoubtedly have protected them if the need had arisen'.
The defendant followed the other victim through the centre of town 'around the front and side of this building'. He sexually assaulted her.
Judge Hayes said that the custodial threshold had been crossed.
He remanded Oladipupo Awolaja in custody to Thursday next for finalisation.
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