GABRIEL MARINOAICA FROM WALSALL JAILED FOR BRUTAL SEA-BASED RAPE OFF BOURNEMOUTH BEACH

A young man from Walsall, Gabriel Marinoaica, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after being convicted of a shocking sexual assault that took place in the sea off Bournemouth Beach. The incident, which occurred in broad daylight with numerous witnesses present, involved a 15-year-old girl who was subjected to a heinous act of sexual violence by Marinoaica, then 18 years old.

Marinoaica, who hails from Darlaston, Walsall, West Midlands, was found guilty in March of three counts of sexual assault and one count of rape. The sentencing was handed down at Bournemouth Crown Court on April 19. Prosecutor Richard Tutts described the act as a brazen violation, emphasizing that Marinoaica 'took what he wanted and used his victim in the process.'

The court heard that the assault was committed in full view of the public, in a location where the victim, who was simply enjoying her day at the beach with two friends, would have reasonably believed she was safe. The incident unfolded on July 18, 2021, when the victim and her friends were playing with a ball in the shallows near Bournemouth Beach. The ball floated towards Marinoaica, who initially refused to return it. After some exchange of names and the ball, he then pulled the girl deeper into the water, where she could no longer touch the seabed.

The victim repeatedly told him she was uncomfortable, and Judge Evans described her feelings as 'plainly frightening,' which left her feeling vulnerable. Marinoaica then asked her if she wanted to 'smash,' a colloquial term for having sex, to which she responded with a firm no. Despite her refusal, he proceeded to touch her 'everywhere,' an act that Judge Evans noted was clearly non-consensual. The judge pointed out that Marinoaica knew she was not consenting, especially when he placed his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming for help, an action that was described as 'very significant' and indicative of his awareness of her lack of consent.

Following the assault, Marinoaica pursued the girl to obtain her Snapchat details, further demonstrating his awareness that his actions were wrong. The police arrested him 11 months later after DNA evidence from semen found in the girl’s bikini matched his DNA profile. The court was told that the victim now suffers from panic attacks and nightmares, with her statement revealing the profound psychological impact of the assault. She described her mental state as 'mentally drained' and expressed her fear of male motives, which has caused her to lose her love for the beach and the sea. She now feels unsafe in water, feeling sick at the thought of swimming alone, and fears that she may never be able to enjoy the water again without feeling anxious.

During mitigation, solicitor Sophie Murray explained that Marinoaica was immature at the time, lacking the necessary understanding of the consequences of his actions. She highlighted that he was on holiday with his family and had not been expected to interact with women, which contributed to his overexuberance. Ms Murray argued that he was unable to control his sexual urges and that he would have to live with the shame and impact on his family.

Judge Evans expressed concern that such an incident undermines public confidence in safety on busy beaches, emphasizing that young people should be able to enjoy public spaces without fear. She also noted that Marinoaica had previously been questioned by police in June 2021 regarding an unrelated allegation of rape, which was found to be consensual, but this did not serve as a warning for his future conduct.

Marinoaica was sentenced to serve two-thirds of his prison term in custody, with the remaining time on licence. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life and issued a 20-year sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.