Former Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and Coventry City man handed jail term after rape conviction

The 32-year-old - who also represented for Bolton Wanderers, MK Dons, Coventry City, Rochdale, Blackpool, Colchester United, Cheltenham Town, FC Halifax Town and Hayes & Yeading during a relatively undistinguished playing career - retired in 2020.

In November 2021, he attacked the 27-year-old - who cannot be named - during her visit to London from the USA along with two female friends.

He was invited back to their Airbnb after a night out and had consensual sex with one.

After being asked to stop, he did so - but went into the victim's room and raped her.

Following a trial, a jury convicted Odelusi by a 10-to-two majority.

Odelusi had denied the charges, maintaining that the victim was awake and consented.

"A sleeping person cannot give consent," said prosecutor Charles Evans, as reported by The Sun. "It is that simple. It is not the Crown’s case that the complainant was too intoxicated to consent, but it is the Crown’s case that her intoxication certainly contributed to the circumstances whereby the defendant was able to rape the sleeping complainant."

A statement read to the court for Odelusi said: “I want to begin by expressing my sincere and heartfelt remorse to all those who have been affected. Today, I stand at a crossroads as my name, once a source of pride, has been tarnished.”

Odelusi joined Latics from Bolton in 2015 following relegation to League One.

After making only five appearances, three of which were as a substitute - and following loan spells at Rochdale and Blackpool - he moved on to Colchester in 2017.

His LinkedIn page describes him as an ‘ex-professional footballer. Now working as a consultant’. It continues: “I represent players that are motivated to reach their full potential. With my previous experiences I use those to help guide them. Every day we are being judged I make sure all my players live by this.”