A FORMER male model and Limerick student has been jailed for four years for the rape of a fellow college student.
Utseoritselaju Uwatse (25) of Avonmore Road, Raheen, Limerick, was found guilty of a single count of rape by a jury at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court earlier this year in March.
The court heard that the offence took place on April 20, 2018. The victim, Danielle Lyons, waived her anonymity in order to name Mr Uwatse.
Speaking in court, Detective Garda McGrath told Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, that on the night in question, a group of college students had gathered for drinks in Cratloe Student Village for birthday celebrations before going into Limerick City for a night out.
Det Gda McGrath said that one of the members of the group was Danielle Lyons, who, in her evidence, said the group went to Smyth’s pub and then onto Molly’s late bar in the city.
It was at the latter establishment where she met Uwatse, whom she said she had known socially.
The court was shown footage of Mr Uwatse and Ms Lyons hugging in the late-night venue, after which Ms Lyons returned to socialise with her friends. The court heard that she and another friend left the pub and returned to the student village, where a number of parties were taking place in different apartments.
The court heard that, at one stage, Uwatse picked Ms Lyons up and carried her into a bedroom and lay her on the bed, where she says he removed her shoes before falling asleep.
The following morning, Ms Lyons woke early and recalled that her clothes did not feel right, and she could feel pressure in her vagina.
Ms Lyons told the court that Mr Uwatse was beside her and he asked her if she “was on the pill”.
Mr Uwatse then told her that they had sex and the condom had broken. Ms Lyons realised she had not consented to this and became upset.
The court heard that Uwatse left the apartment and Gardaí were called. He was arrested and questioned in June 2018, where he told Gardaí the sex had been consensual.
Reading her victim impact statement to the court, Ms Lyons said: “I don’t think there are any words that would convey the damage that you have done”.
“The woman who is here today is broken down,” she read.
“I felt guilty for the heaviness I brought to my friends and family.”
Det Gda McGrath agreed with Seamus Clarke SC, defending, that his client was born in Nigeria and moved to Ireland as a child. He said that his client was 20 years of age at the time of the offence.
The Garda agreed with counsel that Mr Uwatse had enjoyed success as a model and was involved in athletics when he was younger.
Sentencing Mr Uwatse earlier today (Monday), Mr Justice Paul Burns said rape was a serious crime and agreed that Mr Uwatse deserved a headline sentence of between seven and 10 years.
He noted Uwatse had had a “promising future” ahead of him before this offence, and noted he has no previous convictions. He said he hoped that Ms Lyons, with the support of her family and friends, would be able to put the matter behind her as best as she could.
Mr Clarke said his client was living and working in the UK and was about to board a flight to Milan for a modelling job when he became aware that the Gardaí wished to speak with him.
He said that Mr Uwatse surrendered himself to police in the UK and returned to Ireland for questioning, adding that his client has no previous convictions, has a good work ethic, and was polite and cooperative with Gardaí.
He asked the court to be as lenient as possible and that his client is sorry for the hurt that he had caused.
