A man 'pounced' on a lone woman in a 'terrifying attack' along a dirt path in Middleton. The woman was heading into the town centre for an opticians appointment when the man grabbed her around her waist from behind.
At around 9am on May 17, the woman had been walking along Wood Street, before she turned down a dirt path leading to Top Street. It was then that Gift Oladele, 21, from Manchester, followed her down the path and 'pounced' on her.
She screamed and dropped her weight in order to break free of his grip. A struggle lasted for 30 seconds before she managed to break free and Oladele ran away. She then phoned 999.
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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 did not happen.
Following a four-day trial, a jury found him guilty of false imprisonment of a woman. He will be sentenced on the December 16 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.”
Read more of today's stop stories here.
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