Nigerian man spared jail after sexual assault conviction in UK

A 23-year-old Nigerian, Ayomide Famakinde, has been sentenced to an 18-month community order in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman near Bournemouth beach in 2022.

The sentence, delivered this week at Bournemouth Crown Court, spares Famakinde prison time despite DNA evidence confirming his involvement in the late-night attack. The court also ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutors told the court that Famakinde, reportedly under the influence of alcohol or drugs, approached the teenager and forcibly placed his hand down her jogging bottoms. She resisted and cried out for help until a companion intervened.

In a statement read during proceedings, the victim said the incident left her fearful of walking alone and deeply anxious about public spaces. “Thinking about that night still makes me feel sick to my stomach,” she said.

Recorder Nicholas Haggan KC described the offence as a “momentary aberration” and cited Famakinde’s “very troubled background” and lack of previous convictions as reasons for choosing rehabilitation over a custodial sentence. He noted that Famakinde had “matured significantly” in the three years since the attack and had shown remorse.

The ruling has reignited debate over sentencing standards for sexual offences in the UK, with women’s rights advocates warning that leniency can undermine public confidence in the justice system and fail to reflect the lasting impact on victims.

Famakinde, a south London gym instructor who moved to Britain as a child and grew up in the care system, expressed regret through his legal counsel, pledging to use the non-custodial sentence as a chance to rebuild his life.