Small-boat migrant who raped woman after she refused to marry him so he could stay in UK is jailed

A small boat migrant who raped a woman who refused to marry so he could stay in England has been jailed.

Afeez Salau, 31, attacked the woman at her Lewisham flat in February 2024 after she turned down his marriage proposal out of concerns he only wanted to improve her immigration status.

Although they had discussed consent together, Salau raped her, only stopping when he repeatedly struck her in the chest to free her.

The next day the woman texted the Nigerian, who arrived in the UK illegally from Germany on a small boat in 2018, and told him she did not consent to his actions.

Reading a victim impact statement at Southwark Crown Court, the woman said she had ‘felt lethargic for weeks’ and ‘couldn’t enjoy even the simplest things like listening to music’.

The woman experienced a ‘sense of fear’ while waiting for the HIV test results to come out. Fortunately, he did not contract any illness from Salau.

He continued: ‘This crime affected me psychologically and emotionally. What happened is always in my mind.

‘I feel stuck in a cycle of blame that I don’t want and don’t deserve. ‘I’m always disgusted by men.’

Salau was sentenced to five years in prison for rape on June 12, but will only serve half of that time in custody.

He was also given a 10-year restraining order, will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life and is “possible to be deported”.

Sentencing Salau, Judge Martyn Levitt said: ‘I listened carefully to the complainant during the hearing. I believe that she is a very principled lady who entered your life very cautiously.

‘He was unsure of your immigration status and was suspicious of your intention to marry him.

‘I have come to the conclusion that you are a manipulative man who doesn’t listen when a woman says no.’

The judge said Salau knew very well what consent was and had ‘ignored her consistent requests’ that she did not want to have sex with him.

‘He even hit your chest to save you from him. After he kept hitting you, you finally broke free.’

The judge said there was no evidence to prove Salau’s nationality or reason for being in the UK and that he had not applied to the Home Office to stay.

Afeez Salau was convicted by a jury of one count of rape.