Heaven nightclub closes after bouncer accused of raping drunk woman who was turned away

paradise nightclub was closed immediately after a bouncer was accused of raping a drunken woman who was denied entry.

A world-renowned gay club has had its license suspended for 28 days following an emergency hearing at Westminster Council on Friday.

The woman said she was assaulted by a bouncer on November 1 and was then “ignored” when she tried to report the attack to other security staff at the club, the meeting was told.

She queued with friends to enter Heaven for around two hours before reaching the front, but was then “refused to enter because she was intoxicated”, the Met told the council in its evidence .

Police added: “(The group) left the line and the victim approached the security guard and asked if they could be allowed in so they could get their friends who were already inside.

“The victim was then approached by another male security guard who said he could help them in.”

At the meeting, it became known that the suspect took the woman and her friends away from the entrance of the night club and led them into the alley.

She was described on CCTV as “unsteady on her feet and clearly drunk”.

The footage shows the woman climbing into the back of the car, followed by the suspect, who allegedly “had forced sex with the victim” while in the back of the car, officers told the licensing board.

When she reported being assaulted, other Heaven security staff allegedly “ignored her,” police said.

In an expedited manner, it became known that detectives detained the suspect in Heaven on November 11.

Further investigations revealed that the arrested man was not authorized to work in the UK and may have “provided a false name to his employer in order to obtain employment”.

The Met Police said Morinikei Adewole, 47, of Dunlop Close, Dartford, also known as Olu Julius or Olusolu Alabi, was charged with rape.

It also became known at the meeting that on May 6, three employees of the institution’s security service were filmed allegedly “attacking a client on the street.”

They were all subsequently released, but a Met Police spokesman said “the incidents raise serious concerns about the establishment’s ability to meet its obligations to protect its customers”.

In a statement, police added: “A licensing hearing at Westminster Council has ordered that the license for Heaven nightclub in Villiers Street be suspended for up to 28 days pending a full hearing.

“This will take effect immediately, meaning Heaven will not open tonight.

“At the hearing, it became known that early in the morning on Sunday, November 1, an employee of the security service allegedly raped a woman near the scene of the incident.

“Other staff members then allegedly ignored her attempts to report the assault.

“The security service employee was arrested and charged with rape. He is in remand.”

In a statement, the club said it was “disappointed” by the allegations but was also exploring options to appeal the licensing decision.

A spokesman said: “Following the allegation of a security guard sexually assaulting a woman who was refused entry to Heaven nightclub, Westminster Council has suspended Heaven’s premises licence, meaning we must close until further notice.

“We are considering our position regarding the appeal.

“We are sickened by this allegation, but cannot comment as the criminal investigation is ongoing. We can only convey our thoughts to the intended victim.

“Our priority is to put new procedures in place to make sure nothing like this happens again and to earn the trust of the Council as we move forward.”

As reported on the club’s website, the progressive metal band VOLA was supposed to perform on the site on Friday evening before closing.

A Westminster Council spokesman said: “Following an inquiry from the Metropolitan Police and taking into account evidence from both the police and the operator, the council’s licensing committee has decided to suspend Heaven’s license for 28 days.

“We recognize the cultural significance of the site, but the committee agreed that this step was necessary to prevent serious crime and protect the public.

“A full licensing hearing will be held in December.”

Amy Lame, who until last month was Sadiq Khan’s night king, seemed to disagree with the decision to revoke Heaven’s license.

She wrote on Instagram: “Our community is held to double standards, targeted by institutionalized homophobia, and victimized by legally questionable interpretations of licensing rules. Let the battle begin.”