UK court sentences Nigerian man to six years for train sexual assaults, unlawful confinement

A United Kingdom court has sentenced a 27-year-old Nigerian man, Daniel Odubanjo, to six years in prison for sexually assaulting two females and unlawfully detaining one of them inside a train toilet during separate incidents on a passenger service.
Odubanjo, who lives on King Avenue in Clapham, South London, was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court of false imprisonment and two counts of sexual assault on a female. The offences occurred on November 29, 2024, aboard a train travelling from Shenfield to Chelmsford.
In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits Odubanjo from being under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicating substance while on public transport, at railway stations, or on Network Rail property.
According to the British Transport Police, the first incident involved a 21-year-old woman who was using the train toilet when Odubanjo repeatedly banged on the door. When she opened it, he forced her back into the cubicle and locked it from the inside.
Police said the victim tried to alert another passenger for help, but Odubanjo restrained her and stopped her from leaving. She was eventually able to escape after falsely claiming she was underage.
After the first victim got off the train at Chelmsford, Odubanjo reportedly targeted a second victim, a 17-year-old girl, who was still on board the same train. He allegedly sat opposite her, behaved indecently, and asked inappropriate questions.
Despite the teenager’s attempt to move closer to other passengers, Odubanjo followed her and carried out another sexual assault. The attack ended when a fellow passenger intervened and restrained him until police officers arrived. He was arrested when the train stopped at Hatfield Peverel station.
Commenting on the case, Detective Sergeant Hayley Whyte described the attacks as terrifying, noting that both incidents occurred within minutes of each other and left the victims deeply traumatised.
She also praised the bravery of the victims for reporting the assaults, stating that their courage ensured Odubanjo was brought to justice. [Prompt News]