Adewale Sobogun is in prison serving a 28-year sentence after being convicted of 17 counts of non-recent sexual abuse against two children over a period spanning more than a decade. The 61-year-old from Croydon was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on 15 April 2026, following a Metropolitan Police investigation that began after one of his victims found the courage to come forward years after the abuse.
Who Is Adewale Sobogun?
Anthony Adewale Sobogun is a 61-year-old man from Thistlewood Crescent, Croydon, south London. He was convicted of 17 non-recent sexual abuse offences against two children. The offending took place during the 1990s and early 2000s and involved the sustained sexual abuse of a girl from a young age. Sobogun exploited a position of trust within the family context to carry out the abuse over a prolonged period. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison at Inner London Crown Court on 15 April 2026 and will be subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.
The Abuse: What He Did and for How Long
The abuse began in the 1990s when the primary victim was a young child, and continued into the early 2000s. During this time, Sobogun committed multiple incidents of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, as well as rape of a child on multiple occasions. The court heard deeply disturbing details about the extent of the abuse, including that at one point the victim fell pregnant as a result of his offending and Sobogun accompanied her to an abortion clinic. The second victim was also subjected to sexual abuse. The offending spanned at least 15 years in total across both victims.
The Metropolitan Police Investigation
Sobogun was arrested in the early hours of 2 July 2025 following an investigation led by the Metropolitan Police’s specialist child abuse unit. The investigation was triggered after one of the victim-survivors came forward to report the abuse. Officers gathered evidence relating to both victims, leading to 17 charges being brought against Sobogun. He was remanded in custody following his arrest. The case demonstrates the importance of specialist policing teams in handling complex historic abuse cases, and the courage required of victims to report abuse that took place many years earlier.
Conviction and Sentence
Adewale Sobogun was found guilty of all 17 counts of non-recent sexual abuse and was sentenced on 15 April 2026 at Inner London Crown Court. The judge imposed a 28-year custodial sentence, reflecting the severity, duration and number of the offences, the vulnerability of the victims, the exploitation of a position of trust, and the profound and lasting harm caused to both victims. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. A Serious Crime Prevention Order may also have been made. If you have questions about how the prison or parole system works, our guide to the Parole Board UK explains the release process in detail.
Victim Impact
One of the victim-survivors gave a powerful account at court describing the lifelong impact of Sobogun’s abuse. The fact that she was taken to an abortion clinic by her abuser after falling pregnant as a result of his offending gave some indication of the level of control and harm he exerted. For the victims, the decision to report historic abuse and go through a criminal trial takes considerable bravery. The conviction and lengthy sentence represent a measure of justice for the harm they suffered over many years. Support services for survivors of sexual abuse are available via organisations such as the Rape Crisis network and the NSPCC.
What His Sentence Means in Practice
A 28-year determinate sentence means Sobogun will serve the majority of his term in custody. Under UK sentencing law, he would ordinarily become eligible for parole consideration at the two-thirds point of his sentence — meaning he could not be considered for release before approximately the mid-2040s at the earliest, assuming sentence ran from his remand date in July 2025. Even then, the Parole Board would need to be satisfied he no longer poses a risk before releasing him. Given the nature and extent of the offending, any future release on licence would be subject to stringent conditions. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life, meaning he is subject to notification requirements and monitoring regardless of whether he is ever released from custody.
If a family member has been convicted of a serious offence and you need to understand what happens next, our pages on prison visits and sending money to a prisoner provide practical guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Adewale Sobogun in prison?
Adewale Sobogun is in prison because he was convicted of 17 counts of non-recent sexual abuse against two children, including multiple counts of rape of a child and sexual intercourse with a girl under 13. The offending took place between the 1990s and early 2000s in Croydon, south London. He was sentenced to 28 years at Inner London Crown Court on 15 April 2026.
How long is Adewale Sobogun sentence?
Adewale Sobogun was sentenced to 28 years in prison. He is also on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Under the rules that apply to his sentence, he cannot be considered for parole release until he has served approximately two thirds of his 28-year term, meaning the mid-2040s is the earliest possible point at which he could be considered for release by the Parole Board.
Who investigated Adewale Sobogun?
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police, specifically their specialist child abuse investigation unit. The investigation began after one of the victim-survivors reported the abuse to police. Sobogun was arrested on 2 July 2025 and was remanded in custody following his arrest. The Crown Prosecution Service prosecuted the case at Inner London Crown Court.
How many victims did Adewale Sobogun have?
Adewale Sobogun was convicted of offences against two child victims. The primary victim suffered the most prolonged abuse, spanning well over a decade from the 1990s into the early 2000s. A second victim was also subjected to sexual abuse. In total, 17 charges were proven at trial, covering offences committed against both victims over the course of the offending period.
Is Adewale Sobogun a UK national?
Adewale Sobogun is a Nigerian-born man who was residing in Croydon, south London at the time of his arrest. He is reported to have been based in the UK for an extended period. Following the completion of his sentence, he may be subject to deportation proceedings as a foreign national convicted of serious offences. The Home Office typically reviews the immigration status of foreign nationals convicted and sentenced to 12 months or more in custody.
