'Promising' Aston Villa apprentice footballer, 20, who followed lone woman off a bus before raping her behind Villa Park is jailed for more than 10 years

An Aston Villa apprentice football who followed a lone woman off a bus for over half a mile before raping her behind Villa Park football ground has been jailed for 10 years and six months. 

Khadim Drame, who was called a 'promising young footballer', told the 45-year-old victim she was 'pretty and sexy' after following her from the bus stop in Aston Lane, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

When she rejected his advances, the then 18-year-old 'waved a bundle of cash' at her before raping her in a grassy area on Witton Lane behind Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa FC.

Drame, of Aston, also threatened to kill her if she pulled up her trousers during the petrifying ordeal on March 15 last year. 

The rapist, now 20, initially denied a charge of rape but changed his plea to guilty on the second day of the trial after CCTV was played to the jury.

He was yesterday sentenced to 10 years and six months in a young offenders' institute at Birmingham Crown Court as the judge branded the attack 'every woman's worst nightmare'.

Khadim Drame, who was called a 'promising young footballer', told the 45-year-old victim she was 'pretty and sexy' after following her from the bus stop in Aston Lane, Birmingham Crown Court heard

The victim was left fearing for her life during the rape, which took place after she got the bus at around 11pm.

She has suffered 'flashbacks and nightmares', the court heard, and has had to move closer to work just so she won't have to take another bus.

A lifetime restraining order was also imposed banning Drame from contacting her, indirectly or directly, or going to any address he believes she may live.

Judge Martin Hurst, sentencing, told Drame he would inevitably lose his career as a footballer after the court heard he had been playing at a 'high level'.

He told him: 'You are now 20 years of age. At the time of the offence you were 18, nearly 19. In 2019 you came to this country to take up an apprenticeship at Aston Villa Football Club.

'You had been out for the evening with a group of three or four male friends. You had been to the cinema and a pizza restaurant. You had a bundle of cash in your top pocket.

'The victim of this is 45-years-old. She had been with her boyfriend for the evening, something that she would do every evening. It's her greatest misfortune that she was on the same bus as you.

When she rejected his advances, the then 18-year-old 'waved a bundle of cash' at her before raping her in a grassy area on Witton Lane behind Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa FC

'She was in the habit of calling her friend because she considered it gave her a degree of safety from any predatory males who might be in the vicinity.'

He added: 'She was petrified. She was screaming at the top of her lungs. She feared, understandably, for her life. That was enforced by you threatening to kill her if she pulled her trousers up.'

Drame will serve seven-and-a-half years in the young offenders' institute before being eligible for release and will spend the remaining three years on extended licence.

Judge Hurst continued: 'It is a tragedy that you will inevitably lose your career as a footballer. I can't think that any football club will take you on now with your conviction.

'In my judgement an unprovoked and unsolicited attack on a lone female at night who you had never seen before at the end of a perfectly pleasant night with your friends when you were not intoxicated, following her for about half a mile, does demonstrate the risk that you pose.'

Drame was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life and told he would likely 'never work with children'.

Mr Ecky Tiwana, defending, said: 'He is, of course, of previously good character. He is working three days a week and doing an apprenticeship with Aston Villa (the other days). 

'He was a promising young footballer, that's all going to be taken away from him. He lacks maturity in his thinking but he has a capability of learning from that.'

Sergeant Louise Wooff, of West Midlands Police, said: 'This savage attack has had a devastating impact on the victim. The fact that Drame saw her on the bus and followed her shows a chilling amount of premeditation.

'I commend her bravery in reliving her experience at the impending trial. I hope Drame's admission brings her some sense of justice.'