Gabriel Marinoaica, 20, has been sentenced to six and a half years in detention for raping a 15-year-old girl who could not swim after dragging her out of her depth in the sea off Bournemouth beach. The attack occurred in July 2021 on one of the hottest days of the year, when the beach was crowded.
Marinoaica, then 18, grabbed the girl as she played catch with friends and pulled her into deep water. He covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming during the assault until she broke free and swam back to shore. The court heard that the victim, who could not swim, was left terrified and haunted by nightmares.
In a victim impact statement read at Bournemouth Crown Court, the girl said she had lost her love for the sea and beach, and now feels unsafe in water. She stated: 'I have tried to put it behind me but it is never not with me... I see him in my nightmares.'
Marinoaica, from Walsall, West Midlands, claimed the sex was consensual but was convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Judge Susan Evans KC described his actions as 'predatory' and 'brazen', noting the beach should be a safe place. She reduced the sentence due to his youth and immaturity at the time of the offence.
The judge said Marinoaica had caused 'lifelong harm' to the vulnerable victim. The prosecution highlighted that he was at the beach with his family when he committed the attack. Defence counsel Sophie Murray argued he was of previous good character and had acted due to immaturity and inability to control sexual impulses.
