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Man found guilty of raping five women he met on dating website Man found guilty of raping women he met on dating website
(35 minutes later)
A father of three has been found guilty of raping five women after meeting them on internet dating site Match.com.A father of three has been found guilty of raping five women after meeting them on internet dating site Match.com.
Jason Lawrance, described by police as a “sexual predator”, contacted thousands of women online and made three sexual attacks months after getting married to someone he met via the website. Jason Lawrance, described by police as a “sexual predator”, contacted thousands of women online. He made three sexual attacks months after getting married to someone he met via the website.
The 50-year-old was also found guilty of attempting to rape and sexually assault two other women after chatting to them online.The 50-year-old was also found guilty of attempting to rape and sexually assault two other women after chatting to them online.
Derby crown court heard that four of the victims complained about Lawrance to Match.com; one of the women was told that administrators could not do anything because he had not sent abusive messages through the site.Derby crown court heard that four of the victims complained about Lawrance to Match.com; one of the women was told that administrators could not do anything because he had not sent abusive messages through the site.
Lawrance, a former company director turned self-employed builder, texted one of his victims after attacking her. He apologised for “hurting her” and said: “When you were crying out for me to stop I couldn’t, I’m so mad at myself xxx.”Lawrance, a former company director turned self-employed builder, texted one of his victims after attacking her. He apologised for “hurting her” and said: “When you were crying out for me to stop I couldn’t, I’m so mad at myself xxx.”
The jury of six women and six men heard that Lawrance raped another woman in the back of a van that he had parked in a field in Northamptonshire, while a third was attacked at her home as her son was asleep in a nearby bedroom. The jury of six women and six men heard that Lawrance raped another woman in the back of a van that he had parked in a field in Northamptonshire, while a third was attacked at her home as her son was sleeping in a nearby bedroom.
He was arrested after a friend of a woman who was raped in Derbyshire in November 2014 went to the police. Investigations revealed he had sexually attacked another six women he met through Match.com since June 2011. He was arrested after a friend of a woman who was raped in Derbyshire in November 2014 went to the police. Investigations found that he had sexually attacked another six women met through Match.com since June 2011.
Prosecuting, Shaun Smith QC told the jury that Lawrance – who used the profile names KeepItStraightToday and StraightMan-Looking – was a Jekyll and Hyde character and that he targeted “vulnerable, naive, lonely women”.Prosecuting, Shaun Smith QC told the jury that Lawrance – who used the profile names KeepItStraightToday and StraightMan-Looking – was a Jekyll and Hyde character and that he targeted “vulnerable, naive, lonely women”.
DCI Allison Rigby of Derbyshire police said the trial had been “devastating” for the victims. “I certainly think he is a sexual predator who has preyed on women through Match.com that he has met who have got (some) vulnerability,” she said. “He seems to have targeted females who are divorced and widowed. DCI Allison Rigby of Derbyshire police said the trial had been “devastating” for the victims. “I certainly think he is a sexual predator who has preyed on women through Match.com that he has met who have got [some] vulnerability,” she said. “He seems to have targeted females who are divorced and widowed.
“Only Jason Lawrance will know how many people he has sexually assaulted – it is possible that there are other people out there.“Only Jason Lawrance will know how many people he has sexually assaulted – it is possible that there are other people out there.
“I would say [the victims] have been very brave in the fact they have come forward to give evidence and confront him in court … I just hope once this case is finished, they can move forward and start to rebuild their lives.”“I would say [the victims] have been very brave in the fact they have come forward to give evidence and confront him in court … I just hope once this case is finished, they can move forward and start to rebuild their lives.”
Rigby added that she hoped the case would give dating sites the chance to ensure they had a “robust process” for dealing with complaints and that they could remove someone in a “timely manner” if issues were raised. Rigby added that she hoped the case would give dating sites the chance to ensure they had a “robust process” for dealing with complaints and that they could remove someone from the site in a “timely manner” if issues were raised.
The jury took 10 hours find Lawrance guilty of all charges. Judge Gregory Dickinson said remanded him in custody until his sentencing on Thursday morning.