NORBERT IGBOJESIDURU SENTENCED IN NEWQUAY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has shocked the community of Newquay, Norbert Igbojesiduru, aged 54 and residing on Edgcumbe Avenue, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl and subsequently sentenced to a significant prison term. The incident, which took place in April 2011, involved a calculated deception under the guise of offering professional massage services, but ultimately revealed a disturbing pattern of misconduct.

Igbojesiduru was handed a sentence of 30 months in prison at Truro Crown Court on a Thursday, following his conviction. In addition to his incarceration, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes and the court’s intent to protect the public from further harm.

The victim, who was only 17 at the time, first encountered Igbojesiduru in a local pub in Newquay while she was accompanied by her boyfriend. The court heard that the three individuals developed a casual friendship after Igbojesiduru and the girl’s boyfriend celebrated a Manchester United goal, a shared interest that initially seemed innocent. Their interactions continued as they crossed paths in the town center, and they even spent leisure time together, including a beach kickabout and playing pool in a local pub.

On April 14, 2011, Igbojesiduru approached the girl and her boyfriend with a proposition. He claimed to be a qualified masseur and expressed his intention to establish a massage business on Berry Road in Newquay. He explained that he needed 100 signatures from people who had received massages to secure a grant and license from the local council. He asked the girl if she would assist him in this endeavor, and she agreed, believing she was helping a legitimate business venture.

Prosecutor Miss Joanna Martin detailed the subsequent events, stating, “The victim, believing that he was a nice man, felt comfortable with him, so she said she would be happy to help him. On April 17, 2011, she received a text message from the defendant asking if she could come at 8 o’clock to his flat in Berry Road for the massage and said he would give her £10 for her trouble. She went for a massage believing it was entirely above board.”

During the appointment, Igbojesiduru provided her with a bottle of beer and instructed her to take a shower, advising her to bring only a towel. The girl, feeling uneasy, kept her underwear on after the shower. The defendant then asked her to sit on a chair backwards and began the massage. He claimed to have difficulty reaching her lower back and suggested she lie on a massage table he had set up.

The girl, who had never experienced a massage before, later testified via a recorded DVD that Igbojesiduru’s actions made her extremely uncomfortable. She described how he focused on and touched her lower body, including her bottom, without her consent, and she felt exposed and vulnerable. He also instructed her to put on a blindfold, claiming it would help her relax, but she later lifted the blindfold and saw Igbojesiduru holding his mobile phone between her legs, which caused her further distress.

Realizing she needed to leave, the girl quickly finished the session, grabbed her phone, and ran into the bathroom where her clothes were. Concerned about potential cameras, she dressed hurriedly in a crouched position and texted her boyfriend to come quickly. When police searched Igbojesiduru’s residence, they discovered several mobile phones, including one containing a photograph of the victim, which confirmed her account.

Miss Martin emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “If your masseur is someone who is getting some sexual gratification with touching your body while he is massaging you, and taking photographs of your private parts, you can see how a pleasurable and relaxing experience can turn into a nightmare. This defendant claimed he was setting himself up as a masseur so he could quite literally get his hands on young women for his own sexual pleasure.”

Igbojesiduru’s defense argued that the victim and her boyfriend fabricated the story, alleging that the defendant had a prior criminal record for similar offenses. However, the jury, after deliberating for less than an hour, unanimously found him guilty.

Judge Butterfield, presiding over the case, described the incident as “deliberate and targeted,” adding, “You made the young woman feel ashamed, betrayed, humiliated and made to feel worthless. I don’t have the slightest doubt that this experience will live with her for the rest of her life.”

During the court proceedings, Igbojesiduru reacted by shaking his head and shouting, “It’s racial. There is no justice.”

In addition to the sexual assault conviction, Igbojesiduru faced charges related to possessing approximately 3,300 indecent images of children, including one at a higher level of severity. These images were alleged to be stored on his devices, further complicating his legal situation. The court ruled that these charges would be left on file, meaning they would not proceed without further approval from the court or the Court of Appeal.

Following the verdict, the victim expressed her relief outside the court, stating, “I am just really happy that the truth is out.” The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Newquay, highlighting the dangers of false pretenses and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.