How a British charity employed a Nigerian, Peter Omoruy, convicted of sex trafficking in France

A Nigerian, Peter Omoruyi, convicted of sex trafficking in his absence in France, is said to have been employed by a British charity, Streetz Ahead Creative Housing.

Streetz Ahead Creative Housing is a family business providing aged and vulnerable girls aged 16-30 with holistic, individualized care and support.

Omoruyi, 36, was able to secure a job with the charity thanks to a 'loophole' which means 'unregulated care homes' providing accommodation for older teenagers are not yet registered with the Ofsted, reports the Daily Mail.

Omoruyi was convicted in absentia of four modern slavery and human trafficking offenses in June 2022. He was sentenced to six years in prison which he has yet to serve.

However, the report said he was given the job as a support worker at the charity – which houses vulnerable teenagers, including girls – just five months after his conviction.

The loophole means the charity in Stroud, Gloucestershire, is not yet subject to strict Ofsted conditions, such as overseas conviction checks for staff.

Streetz Ahead Creative Housing, which is not yet registered with Ofsted, provides supported accommodation for girls and boys aged 16 to 18 until they find permanent accommodation.

It was reported that the alleged sex trafficker obtained the position through an agency and did not disclose his conviction at any time during his employment.

Omoruyi was the subject of a full UK criminal conviction check by the charity. However, this gap means that the staff of these housing providers are not yet subject to checks in the event of a conviction abroad.

The former support worker was apprehended on a European arrest warrant in January while trying to fly to Nigeria.

Omoruyi has since left the association, which was apparently unaware of the conviction or extradition until contacted by the Sunday Express last week.

According to the report, this loophole means that “unregulated” care homes housing older teenagers are not subject to strict controls by Oftsed.

Oftsed would check the overseas conviction checks of all staff.

The charity has not yet been registered with Oftsed, meaning Peter Omoruyi has not been subject to any checks regarding overseas convictions.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard at a hearing in February that Omoruyi was aware of the conviction, as a lawyer had represented him at the trial.

The conviction related to “aiding prostitution from 2019 to 2020 and human trafficking by driving prostitutes to Lyon,” the court said.

Prostitution earned Omoruyi at least 190,000 euros even though he had declared no income in France, the court also said.

Omoruyi is a father of two in France and also had two children in Nigeria, who now live in the UK, and has a flat in Stroud. He is also being given indefinite leave to remain in the UK, it is reported.

The convict's bail was refused after the CPS argued there were “serious concerns about further offending”.

Omoruyi reapplied for bail last month and was released on bail after paying a £10,000 surety, saying his family had helped him pay the costs.

Facing the media, the 36-year-old man said he was innocent and asked a lawyer to appeal his conviction. He also claimed he was not convicted when he applied to work at Streetz Ahead.

He said he was fighting extradition because he suffered from a brain tumor and wanted to be with his children in the UK.

He said, “My little mother in France told me she was looking for me. I have hired a lawyer who is appealing the decision and we are awaiting a date.

“I did not transport prostitutes, I did not traffic in women,” he added.