CRISTIAN PISCURIANU SHOCKS BLACKPOOL WITH GROOMING AND RAPE OF TEENAGE GIRLS
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the seaside town of Blackpool, Cristian Piscurianu, a married man and father of four, was convicted of grooming underage girls and committing a heinous sexual assault under the pier.The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that began shortly after Piscurianu arrived in the UK, which was only a few weeks prior to the incidents.
According to court records, the 26-year-old defendant, who was 22 at the time of the offenses in March 2019, targeted three young girls who were hanging around a local supermarket.
Under the false pretense of being an 18-year-old peer, Piscurianu engaged in grooming behaviors, attempting to manipulate the girls into performing sexual acts.
The court heard that he falsely claimed to be older and exploited their naivety, knowing they were not 'worldly wise.' He tried to persuade two of the girls to perform oral sex on him, but they managed to refuse.
However, the third girl was taken to the beach, where Piscurianu forcibly assaulted her.
The trauma of this assault left her turning to alcohol and cannabis as a means of coping with the emotional scars.
The court was told that she drank and smoked cannabis regularly in an attempt to forget what had happened to her.
Following the attack, Piscurianu denied the allegations, claiming that the DNA evidence found on the girl’s jeans was merely spittle.
Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence, denying both the rape and grooming charges, despite the jury’s conviction.
Notably, during the proceedings, Piscurianu was supported by his wife and family members, who sat in the public gallery, showing their backing for him.
The court heard that Piscurianu acted with others in grooming the teenagers, exploiting their innocence and lack of experience.
Judge Lloyd emphasized that the girls appeared to be children based on their profile pictures and were clearly not 'worldly wise.' She pointed out that they were unfamiliar with basic sexual terminology, highlighting their vulnerability.
Judge Lloyd detailed how Piscurianu used social media to contact one of the girls, requesting sexy pictures and arranging to meet her shortly before the assault.
He also offered cigarettes and alcohol to the girls and even gave one of them a bracelet, actions that contributed to their feeling of flattery and being special.
The judge noted that the girls initially thought their interactions with Piscurianu and his friends were harmless, but they were unprepared for the sexual advances that followed.
She described the grooming behavior as lying about his age and taking advantage of the significant age disparity—he was a married man with children, while the victims were minors.
The court highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that a disparity of seven or nine years is significant when one party is a child and the other an adult.
One of the girls, who was raped, shared her ongoing struggles.
She described feeling scared and upset, with her mental health suffering to the point where she struggled to cope with school.
She revealed that she turned to alcohol and cannabis regularly to forget her trauma.
Despite having a supportive partner four years later, she still feels uncomfortable around unfamiliar men.
Another victim expressed anxiety in crowded places and avoids going out alone, while a third girl reported being petrified of Romanian men, a reflection of her ongoing fears and trauma.
She also recounted seeing members of Piscurianu’s family on public transport, which triggers her anxiety and causes her to sometimes miss her stop.
Her relationships with men have also been negatively affected by her experiences.
Judge Lloyd concluded that Piscurianu posed a significant danger of serious harm and classified him as a dangerous offender.
She sentenced him to 16 years and three months in prison, with concurrent sentences of three years each for the counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Additionally, she imposed a three-year extended license period, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community in Blackpool.
