Rape accused bouncer worked under fake name - court

A Heaven security guard accused of raping a 19-year-old woman was not permitted to work in the UK and used false ID to get a job at the central London nightclub, a court has heard.

Morenikeji Adewole, 47, of Dartford, Kent, also gave a fake name to police when he was arrested following the alleged rape, Southwark Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

The defendant is on trial accused of raping the teenager in his car near the club in the early hours of 1 November 2024, which he denies.

Jurors were previously told that the woman was visibly drunk and stumbling, and that a person can be too intoxicated to give proper consent.

Mr Adewole was in the UK on a five-year tourist visa that did not allow him to work in the country, the court heard.

It also meant he could not stay for more than six months at a time and he returned to Nigeria when those stints were up, jurors were told.

The defendant had been employed at Heaven under a false name.

Officers discovered his real name through finger print evidence after his arrest, the court heard.

Giving evidence, the defendant said he "used a false ID to obtain work, to get a job" and that it was "to make a living... to save for my partner - I'm the one who paid for the rent".

He said he had come to the UK on vacation and later to find employment.

Asked why he gave officers a false name, he said: "I was panicking, that's the name people call me at my work."

At the time of the alleged rape he was living in an apartment with his partner and at work supervised three other Heaven security guards, the court heard.

He said he had met the complainant, who cannot be identified, months before the incident when she spoke to him by the club.

On the the night of the alleged rape she said "hello uncle how are you":[]}