OLAF KORANTENG AND THE ATTEMPTED RAPE IN CARDIFF NIGHTCLUB
A serious sexual assault incident occurred at Pulse nightclub in Cardiff involving Olaf Koranteng, a 27-year-old man who carried out an attempted rape on a woman in the early hours of July 3 last year.According to court reports, Koranteng forcibly pulled the intoxicated woman into a unisex toilet cubicle within the club, where the assault was carried out.
The victim, who is granted lifelong anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, described feeling an overwhelming sense of disgust and shame following the attack.
She also revealed that the traumatic experience has left her with a deep-rooted fear of strangers, significantly impacting her daily life and sense of security.
Despite her protests and attempts to resist, Koranteng persisted in his assault, forcibly pulling down her underwear and attempting to penetrate her with his penis.
Court proceedings revealed that Koranteng had physically restrained the woman inside the toilet cubicle, refusing her pleas to be released.
He pushed her against the back wall of the cubicle, placing his hands around her neck and trying to kiss her.
He also made an aggressive attempt to compel her to touch his genitals.
The victim managed to resist and struggled against him, eventually unlocking the door and escaping the confined space.
After the incident, the victim was overwhelmed with emotion, breaking down in tears and informing her boyfriend about what had transpired.
She then sought assistance from club staff.
She described Koranteng as “larger, taller and stronger” than herself, which compounded her feelings of fear and helplessness.
Her account underscores the severity of the assault and its lasting psychological impact.
Koranteng, who had only recently arrived in the UK from Ghana less than a month before the incident, remained in the club after the attack.
Later, police arrested him at Pulse nightclub.
During questioning, he appeared confused and made statements such as, “Am I going to get away with this?
I have learnt my lesson,” suggesting a lack of remorse or understanding of the gravity of his actions.
Swabs taken from Koranteng revealed DNA matching the victim's, and CCTV footage showed him approaching several women within the nightclub.
At the court hearing, Koranteng pleaded guilty to attempted rape.
The prosecution chose not to proceed with two additional counts of sexual assault involving other women present on the same night.
The investigation also uncovered that Koranteng had been actively searching online for casual sex, using the explicit search term “local slags,” which details his intentions and mindset leading up to the incident.
A statement read out in court from the victim expressed profound psychological distress and ongoing suffering.
She recounted her difficulty with personal hygiene following the assault, her fear of leaving her home alone, and her distrust of strangers.
She explained that she constantly fears being targeted again, especially in situations similar to her ordeal in the nightclub toilets.
Her statement detailed her feelings of shame, trauma, and her ongoing struggle with mental health issues.
In mitigation, Koranteng's defence counsel explained that he came to the UK on his wife's visa, viewing it as a “golden opportunity.” The lawyer expressed remorse on behalf of his client, stating that Koranteng was “ashamed” and “remorseful” for the distress caused.
The defence argued that Koranteng was under the influence of alcohol and tired, which led to a significant misinterpretation of signals and a breach of cultural boundaries.
The judge, Recorder Bilal Siddique, condemned Koranteng’s actions, describing the incident as an almost successful rape attempt.
The judge stated, “You have nearly managed to rape the victim having isolated her, overpowered her, removed her underwear, took your penis out and pressed your erect penis against her vagina, coming very close to penetrating her.
At the last moment, the attempt failed.” Koranteng was sentenced to four years and one month in prison, with an extended three years on licence.
Additionally, he faces automatic deportation upon release due to the serious nature of his crimes, marking a significant consequence for his actions in Cardiff.
