RICHARD MARLOWE FROM ASPLEY JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEEN ON FACEBOOK IN NOTTINGHAM

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Richard Marlowe, a 20-year-old man from Aspley, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl he met through the social media platform Facebook. The disturbing sequence of events unfolded over several months, revealing a troubling pattern of online grooming and exploitation.

According to court proceedings, Marlowe initiated contact with the young girl while she was still only 14 years old. Their initial conversations took place through Facebook, where they played the online game Deal or No Deal, a popular television game show adapted for internet play. As their online interactions progressed, the girl, who initially claimed to be 17, began sharing increasingly personal and explicit images of herself, including naked photographs. The relationship escalated to the point where she traveled from her home in the South-East to Nottingham to meet Marlowe in person, resulting in them engaging in sexual activity on two separate occasions.

The girl’s disappearance from her home over a weekend prompted her family to report her missing to the authorities. Investigations quickly focused on her online activity, and police officers examined her Facebook account, which ultimately led them to Marlowe’s residence in Aspley. It was during this investigation that officers discovered her at Marlowe’s home, where he was found to be her visitor. The court heard that Marlowe, who was acting as his mother’s registered carer, had initially been involved in a relationship with someone else but became infatuated with the girl, leading him to end that previous relationship.

The court was informed that the girl’s family was devastated upon learning she had traveled approximately 200 miles to Nottingham to see Marlowe. Her mother’s victim statement described the family as being “blown apart” by the revelation. The girl herself expressed feelings of shame and self-blame, believing she was in love with Marlowe but now feeling “dirty” and “controlled.”

Prosecutor Dawn Pritchard outlined how the relationship developed through various online channels, including instant messaging, mobile phone calls, and web chat. Initially, the girl claimed to be 17, and her appearance on Facebook appeared consistent with that age, leading Marlowe to believe she was older. However, she later disclosed that she was only 15, though she was still 14 at the time. Despite this, Marlowe assured her that their age difference did not matter, and their relationship became increasingly sexualized.

As the relationship intensified, Marlowe asked her to send nude photographs, and she traveled to Nottingham twice to meet him in person. During her visits, they engaged in sexual activity, with the girl traveling from the South-East to Nottingham on each occasion. After her return home, their contact persisted through webcam sessions and mobile phone communication. The situation came to a head when her family, concerned about her whereabouts, contacted the police after she left a note with a neighbor indicating she was going away for the weekend. Her family’s efforts to locate her led to the police discovering her at Marlowe’s home.

During the court hearing, it was revealed that Marlowe had been involved in the relationship while acting as his mother’s carer. He admitted to ending his previous relationship after becoming infatuated with the girl. The court heard victim statements from her mother, who described the family’s devastation upon discovering her daughter was in Nottingham with Marlowe. The girl, now feeling shame and regret, believed she was in love but was also overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and shame.

In mitigation, Martin Elwick argued that the girl was a capable young lady capable of making her own decisions, and that the relationship initially appeared consensual. However, the court emphasized the importance of protecting minors from exploitation, and Recorder Nirmal Shant, QC, sentenced Marlowe to six months in custody. She also made it clear that upon release, Marlowe would be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years and be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which would restrict his contact with children in the future. The judge underscored that the law exists to safeguard young girls from harm, even from themselves at times, highlighting the seriousness of the offenses committed by Marlowe in this case.