SAMUEL MARRIOTT FROM WIRRAL SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR GROOMING AND RAPE OF TEENAGE GIRLS ON FACEBOOK

In a case that has shocked the Wirral community, Samuel Marriott, a 22-year-old man from Wirral, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual assault and grooming of two vulnerable teenage girls. The crimes came to light following a detailed trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where Marriott-Lovett was found guilty of two counts of rape and one charge of grooming, despite maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings.

Prosecutor Robert Dudley outlined the disturbing details of the case, revealing that Marriott-Lovett targeted his first victim when she was only 16 years old and described her as vulnerable. The defendant’s predatory behavior did not stop there; he also assaulted a second girl, who was just 14 at the time. This second incident occurred after the girl had a disagreement with her boyfriend, and Marriott-Lovett took advantage of her emotional state by inviting her to his flat. Despite the presence of two friends in the flat, Marriott-Lovett took the girl into his bedroom and raped her, even though she explicitly told him she did not want a sexual relationship.

During the court proceedings, the impact of Marriott-Lovett’s actions was vividly conveyed through an emotional statement from the second girl’s mother. She described her daughter as once being “cuddly, outgoing and bubbly,” but noted that her personality has drastically changed since the assault. The mother expressed concern over her daughter’s current state, saying she is uncomfortable when others invade her personal space or touch her, and that she no longer trusts anyone. The trauma has left her on constant high alert, and her innocence has been severely compromised. The mother also revealed that her daughter was unable to sit her GCSE exams as planned and will now have to wait until the following year to take them.

Despite the severity of the crimes, Marriott-Lovett maintains his innocence regarding the allegations. He was also accused of raping another 14-year-old girl in 2010 but was acquitted of that particular offence. The court heard that Marriott-Lovett used Facebook as his primary means of contact, with Judge Robert Trevor-Jones noting that the social media platform “seems to be the preferred channel used by you to contact and befriend younger females.” The judge emphasized the danger Marriott-Lovett poses, stating, “I consider you represent a danger at this particular time.”

Judge Trevor-Jones also addressed the emotional toll on the victims, highlighting that their need to give evidence in court was a traumatic ordeal, especially given Marriott-Lovett’s denial of the offences, which led the girls to be branded as liars. The defendant, who has no fixed address, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed, restricting his internet use and prohibiting him from being unsupervised with anyone under 18. The case underscores the dangers posed by online grooming and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young people from predators like Samuel Marriott in the Wirral area.