A RAPIST who attacked a woman while she was sleeping cannot be deported from the UK because he has “learned his lesson”.

Italian national Hendrix Ekwen, 34, has won a battle against being kicked out the country despite a report finding that he poses “a high risk of serious harm” to women.

Ekwen arrived in the UK in 2009, between 2012 and 2014, he was involved in five domestic abuse incidents Credit: Getty

Ekwen, who moved to the UK in 2009, maintained his innocence at his trial at Newcastle Crown Court Credit: Getty

He was sentenced to eight years in prison in May 2021 for a rape committed in 2017.

During the terrifying attack his victim “was awoken, by someone having sexual intercourse with her, whilst lying behind her.”

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Ekwen, who moved to the UK in 2009, maintained his innocence at his trial at Newcastle Crown Court and sought to challenge his conviction after he was sentenced.

The Home Office sought to strip him of his European Union Settlement Scheme status and deport him to Italy.

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But during a recent hearing for his appeal against his deportation, Judge Rebecca Anne Pickering accepted that he has recently made a “full acceptance of responsibility” and matured – and so allowed him to stay.

Her conclusions are despite a risk assessment carried out while he was in prison which found he displayed “sexual entitlement” and a “lack of victim empathy”.

Shockingly, the judge also took into account the fact that Ekwen went to college to study sports coaching and played football before he carried out the offence while deciding if he could stay.

Having arrived in the UK aged 18 in 2009, between 2012 and 2014, he was involved in five domestic abuse incidents and in 2015 he received a conditional discharge for possession of cannabis.

In 2020 he made an application under the European Union Settlement Scheme which would let him stay in the country.

It was later that year that he was found guilty of rape and was sentenced in 2021.

Despite the previous convictions he can now remain in the UK after Ekwen said he has “learned his lesson” and that he didn’t want to be known as “that kind of person’”.

In a judgment published on Monday [AUG 17], Judge Pickering said that the Home Office had not “established that there genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat” to public safety by allowing Ekwen to stay in the UK.

She said: “I accept that he now acknowledges that what occurred was rape. I accept that he understands the impact of his conduct upon the victim. I accept that he takes responsibility for his actions and that this development has been gradual rather than opportunistic.”

She concludes that his appeal against his deportation is allowed under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 and “on human rights grounds” A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have sought permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal via the Upper Tribunal.

“Nearly 10,000 foreign criminals including murderers and rapists have been removed since the last election – a 36% increase on the 21 months prior.

“Any foreign national who receives a prison sentence in the UK is referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and will be barred from ever returning.”

Domestic abuse – how to get help

DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone – including men – and does not always involve physical violence.

Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:

Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.

If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:

Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.