CHATHAM SEX OFFENDER BABRITUNDRE MUSTAPHA SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR RAPE AND KIDNAPPING

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Chatham, Babritundre Mustapha, aged 28, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of raping a teenage girl in his home on First Avenue. The incident, which took place in August of the previous year, involved the victim, a 16-year-old girl, being forcibly detained and assaulted by Mustapha in a manner that has left lasting scars.

According to court proceedings, Mustapha initially denied the allegations, claiming that the girl had consented to the sexual encounter. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial at Maidstone Crown Court. The presiding judge, Judge Martin Joy, acknowledged the seriousness of the case, emphasizing the background of coercion and unlawful detention that characterized the assault.

The court heard that the girl had gone to Mustapha’s residence along with a friend. The visit was initially casual, with about six men of African descent present in the house. As the evening progressed, the atmosphere shifted uncomfortable when the conversation turned towards sexual topics. Mustapha then invited the girl to his bedroom, but she only agreed on the condition that the door remained open for her safety.

Once inside, Mustapha attempted to kiss her, despite her protests that she had a boyfriend. His response was dismissive, saying, “I don’t care,” and he then tried to push her onto the mattress. The girl resisted, but Mustapha proceeded to lock the door, trapping her inside. He forcibly pushed her onto the bed, and when she screamed and begged him to stop, he responded by covering her head with a duvet and pillow to muffle her cries.

During this ordeal, Mustapha told her, “You are going nowhere. Shut up,” as he continued to assault her. The girl repeatedly told him she did not want to have sex, but he ignored her pleas and raped her, pinning her down on the mattress. The victim’s friend, who heard the screams from outside, was unable to intervene because of the locked door. Another man in the room dismissed her concerns, telling her, “Leave them alone, they are having fun.”

After the assault, the girl managed to escape and ran to a nearby kebab shop, where she asked staff to call the police. Shortly thereafter, the distressed teenager arrived at the scene, visibly shaken, and asked, “I have just been raped. Why did you leave me?”

Prosecutor Catherine Donnelly described the atmosphere in the house as one of camaraderie, with some individuals seemingly indifferent to the gravity of what had occurred. She highlighted that Mustapha, who had been living in the UK for only 18 months at the time, would be required to register as a sex offender for life.

The judge acknowledged the profound impact the attack had on the victim, noting her impact statement in which she described suffering flashbacks and feelings of suicidal ideation. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the crime and the need for justice for the young girl who endured such a traumatic experience in Chatham.