A Nigerian man, Emmanuel Onwubiko, has been sentenced to two years in prison in the UK for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old lady who later sought baptism to “feel clean” again.

The assaults occurred last year in Warrington, Cheshire, when Onwubiko, then 35, repeatedly touched the teenager inappropriately and asked her sexually explicit questions. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Onwubiko, originally from Nigeria and living in Ashton, Warrington, groped the victim’s breast, bottom, and v+gina on two occasions.

When she objected, he dismissed her concerns, claiming that such behavior would “not be reported” in Nigeria. The teenager, feeling “physically sick,” hid in a bathroom & texted a friend a live account of the ordeal. She later fled to a family member’s home & reported the assault, prompting police involvement.

Onwubiko denied all allegations but was found guilty on five counts of sexual assault after a trial. In court, the victim delivered a moving impact statement, revealing that the trauma left her mentally broken.

“I feel like a shell of my former self,” she said. In desperation, she found a church that performed baptisms on short notice, hoping holy water would “wash away the horrible feelings.” Onwubiko, now 36, had overstayed his UK student visa and was reportedly seeking a post-graduate visa to repay a loan threatening his wife and children back in Nigeria.

His lawyer highlighted the financial pressure facing his family. Judge Gary Woodhall condemned Onwubiko’s actions, saying he “demonstrated sexual attraction” and left the victim “scared.” In a related incident, the victim’s father assaulted Onwubiko after learning of the abuse. He punched him repeatedly, causing serious injuries that required surgery.

The father received an 18-month suspended sentence and must complete 200 hours of community service. Onwubiko was also placed on the sex offender register for 10 years and given a 10-year restraining order to protect the victim.