Man jailed for city centre rape

A Newport man who raped a woman he met on a night out has been jailed.

Christian Okafor, 48, invited the woman and others back to his flat after he met them on a night out in the city centre.

The woman was handed a drink and briefly blacked out, waking up with Okafor on top of her.

DNA evidence was obtained which linked Okafor to the victim.

Okafor denied he had raped the woman, but a jury convicted him of the offence after hearing all the evidence.

Scott McCrimmon of the CPS said: “Rape is a harrowing crime that has a devastating effect on the victim.

“Okafor exploited someone who was in a vulnerable position to satisfy his own sexual desire.

“His conviction resulted from the strong evidence presented by the CPS to the jury.”

Christian Okafor was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on 3 October to eight years’ imprisonment and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Scott McCrimmon added: “The victim coming forward at an early stage was crucial, allowing the CPS to work with police in following the key lines of enquiry and securing evidence leading to this conviction. We thank her for her cooperation and the courage she has shown.”