RAPIST WHO FOUND TEEN VICTIMS ON FACEBOOK JAILED FOR 15 YEARS
A man from Wirral who assaulted two vulnerable teenage girls after meeting them via Facebook was sentenced to 15 years in prison today.Twenty-two-year-old Samuel Marriott-Lovett, described as “dangerous,” was found guilty of two counts of rape and one charge of grooming following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
He continues to deny the allegations.
Prosecutor Robert Dudley explained that Marriott-Lovett assaulted his first victim when she was just 16 and described her as “vulnerable.” He also raped a second girl, aged only 14, after she had a dispute with her boyfriend and invited her to his flat.
Although two friends were present, he led her into his bedroom and assaulted her sexually, despite her expressing that she did not wish to have a sexual relationship with him.
Her mother provided a statement describing how her daughter, once “cuddly, outgoing, and bubbly,” has changed significantly since the assault, impacting the entire family.
“She feels uneasy when people invade her personal space or touch her.
She trusts no one and remains constantly on high alert.
A predator has robbed her of her innocence,” her mother said.
She also stated that her daughter was unable to sit her GCSE exams as planned and would now take them next year.
The mother concluded by saying, “I forgive him.
I believe he is a disturbed individual, but we refuse to let him ruin our lives.” Marriott-Lovett was also accused of raping a different 14-year-old girl in 2010 but was acquitted of that charge.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones noted that Facebook “appears to be the primary method you use to contact and befriend younger females.” He further stated: “I believe you pose a danger at this time.” The judge highlighted that the victims had to relive their experiences by giving evidence, during which they risked being labeled as liars.
He emphasized, “He is a disturbed individual, but we are not going to let him destroy our lives.” As part of his sentence, Marriott-Lovett was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to restrict his internet access and prohibit unsupervised contact with minors under 18.
Defense lawyer Geoffrey Lowe mentioned that the defendant has no prior convictions and continues to deny the crimes.
