Man found guilty of attack on lone woman in Middleton

Gift Oladele, 21, from Manchester, has been found guilty of the false imprisonment of a woman in Middleton in May this year.

On 17 May 2022 at approximately 9am the woman was on her way into Middleton Town Centre for an optician's appointment. She walked along Wood Street before turning down a dirt path leading to Top Street.

Gift Oladele followed her down the path and grabbed her around her waist from behind.

She screamed and dropped her weight in order to try and break free of his grip. After struggling for 30 seconds, she broke free, the man ran away, and the woman called 999.

When Oladele was waiting in a police vehicle to be transported to a police station for interview, he said: “I was just trying to get it on with her.” During his interview he denied that he had initiated any physical contact and said that what she had reported to the police simply did not happen.

Following a four-day trial the jury found him guilty of the attack. He will be sentenced on the 16 December 2022.

Nicola Wells, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Gift Oladele carried out a disturbing and terrifying attack upon a lone woman in broad daylight.

“His actions were predatory; he preyed on her and pounced when she was on an isolated path. He thought he could get away with it, but the strong CCTV evidence meant the police were able to identify him.

“I would like to commend this brave woman’s immense courage and quick thinking in fighting off her attacker and standing up to him during this trial. Her actions have no doubt saved other women from the danger he clearly poses to women in society.”