A Kent security guard has been found not guilty of raping a drunk woman during a shift at Heaven nightclub in London.
Morenikeji Adewole from Dartford was accused of committing the act in the back seat of his Lexus in the early morning of November 1.
Southwark Crown Court in London. Picture: Google Maps
Later that same month, Adewole, who also goes by the names Olu Julius or Olusolu Alabi, was charged with rape and was held in prison on remand.
During a trial at Southwark Crown Court, it was heard how on the night in question, the woman had queued for two hours with five friends to enter the venue for its Halloween-themed event.
But, after she was denied entry for being too drunk, Adewole walked her away from the club’s entrance and picked her up in his car.
The 47-year-old then drove her to a small road called Adelphi Terrace.
But, when giving evidence in court, Adewole said there was sexual activity with the woman, but he did not have penetrative intercourse with her.
Heaven nightclub in central London (Hannah McKay/PA)
He claimed he stopped immediately when the woman who had earlier told him she was 25-years-old admitted to being 19 in the car.
Yesterday (May 30), a jury of eight men and four women unanimously found him not guilty of both rape and attempted rape.
The defendant cried in the dock as the verdict was delivered.
After, Judge Martin Griffith told Adewole he should still be “absolutely ashamed” of himself for taking advantage of her.
He added: “Your job was to take care of them (club attendees).
The Metropolitan Police asked for the venue’s licence to be suspended
“Your response to that was to go off in a car with her because your brain was driven by your groin.”
During the trial, the court heard Adewole had used a fake ID to get the bouncer job and had been hired as Olusola Julius Alabi.
He was also in the UK on a five-year tourist visa that did not allow him to work in the country.
He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of an identification document with improper intention relating to the offences for which Judge Griffith passed concurrent six-month custodial sentences for each.
But, the time had already been served during his time on remand.
A victim surcharge will also be drawn up in due course.
The judge told the jury: “Thank you very much for the obvious care and attention that you took.”
Heaven nightclub, which has operated in Charing Cross for more than 40 years, was temporarily closed down by Westminster City Council after the alleged incident on public safety grounds.