A MAN WHO raped a young woman after driving her home in 2018 has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

The Central Criminal Court heard that Matthew Fadeyi (34) raped the woman, who was an acquaintance and significantly younger than him, after dropping her home in August 2018.

Fadeyi, of Birch Drive, Johnstown Wood, Navan, Co Meath was convicted of one count of rape following a re-trial in May after a jury was unable to reach a verdict in the first trial in 2021.

Imposing sentence today, Justice Kerida Naidoo said the victim in the case was “relatively young and inexperienced” and that Fadeyi did not use a condom, adding to her distress.

The judge said that while all cases of rape involve the restriction of liberty, the woman was especially restricted as she was confined to the back of the car during the attack.

He noted that Fadeyi is now married with children. His wife is expecting their third child.

He handed down a sentence of six-and-a-half years and suspended the final year on a number of conditions.

Ronan Kennedy SC, prosecuting, previously told the court that Fadeyi and the then 20-year-old victim were acquaintances, and on the night in question, he offered to drop her home.

Fadeyi became flirtatious during the drive and asked the woman personal questions.

He parked the car near her home and the woman thanked him.

He then kissed her but she didn’t reciprocate, saying her parents were waiting for her at home.

When he asked her if she wanted to get into the back seat, she repeated that her parents were waiting for her and said that she didn’t want to have sex.

Fadeyi got out of the car, opened the passenger door and again asked the woman to get into the back seat. They got into the back of the car and the woman told him again she didn’t want to have sex.

He then unbuckled his trousers and started to touch his penis before touching the woman’s breasts.

The woman lay down on the back seat and told Fadeyi again that she didn’t want to have sex. She performed oral sex on him, trying to persuade him from having penetrative sex.

Fadeyi then raped her.

At one point, Fadeyi asked her if she was okay and she expressed discomfort. She froze, didn’t react, and kept her arms by her side.

When Fadeyi finished, the victim took her belongings and went home. She felt ashamed, embarrassed and angry. She called a friend, who gave evidence during the trial that she was crying on the call.

The woman went to a local garda station a few days later but didn’t make a statement as no female garda was available. She made a formal complaint to gardaí in January 2019.

Fadeyi was interviewed voluntarily by gardai. He said the sexual encounter was consensual and instigated by the woman.

Fadeyi has one previous minor road traffic conviction.

The court heard that the woman found the experience of giving evidence during the two trials to be traumatic. She has since moved away and didn’t wish to make a victim impact statement.

The investigating garda agreed with Kathleen Leader SC, defending, that the man’s previous conviction post-dates this incident.

Leader outlined to the court that her client is married and has two young children. A number of testimonials were handed into the court.

He has been in custody since conviction and is finding it difficult to be separated from his family, who are missing his support.

Fadeyi moved to Ireland in 2017 and has a good work history. He has engaged in further study and has been offered a place on a third-level course, Counsel said.

Fadeyi’s father died in Nigeria while he was awaiting trial and he was unable to travel to attend the funeral or to visit family, which caused him distress, counsel said.