A DANGEROUS predator sexually assaulted and raped his victim as she drifted in and out of consciousness in his car. 

Olawale Hassan has been jailed for more than ten years after attacking a woman while in his car outside the Genting Casino on Eastern Esplanade.

He sexually assaulter her and raped her three times in the early hours of the morning on February 26.

He had denied the charges but was unanimously found guilty by a jury and was sentenced today. 

Helen Walsh, a Senior Crown Prosecutor in the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit for the East of England CPS, said: “We were able to present the case that Olawale was a controlling sexual predator who showed a complete disregard for the victim’s lack of consent.

"He exploited his opportunity to sexually assault the woman before proceeding to rape her multiple times while she drifted in and out of consciousness in his car."

She added: “Consent can be withdrawn at any time and at the discretion of the individuals involved.

"Just because you consent to dancing does not mean you consent to sex. The law is clear, sex without consent is rape and this case shows that where there is sufficient evidence we will not shy away from prosecuting the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.

"We want every victim of rape to have the confidence to report what happens to them to the police. The police will investigate and gather evidence, and where there is sufficient evidence, the CPS will proceed to prosecution.

"I would like to commend the emotional strength of the woman involved in the case for coming forward and I hope she is able to find a sense of justice in the sentence Olawale Hassan is now facing for his dreadful acts against her." 

Hassan made advances towards the woman in the Varsity pub, in Southend.

And later, rather than seeing her safely home, as he had suggested he would, he drove her to a car park and overpowered her in the front passenger seat of his car.

Ignoring her clear requests to stop, Olawale took advantage of her state of fear and vulnerability to fulfil his own sexual desires.

He initially denied any sexual activity took place. However, there was forensic evidence to suggest otherwise. He went on to admit that sexual activity took place and claimed that it was consensual.