Serial Match.com rapist Jason Lawrance jailed for life

Jailed: Jason Lawrence
PA
Mark Chandler3 March 2016
WEST END FINAL

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A serial rapist who left a “trail of terror” after sexually assaulting a string of women he met on dating website Match.com has been jailed for a minimum of 12-and-a-half years.

Jason Lawrance, a father of three, contacted thousands of women online and committed three sex attacks months after getting married to someone he met via the site.

The former company director texted one of his victims after attacking her, apologising for "hurting her" and saying: "When you were crying out for me to stop I couldn't, I'm so mad at myself xxx."

The 50-year-old, of Liphook, Hampshire, was convicted yesterday of raping five women and attempting to rape and sexually assault two others after chatting to them online.

At Derby Crown Court today, he was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 years and six months.

Judge Gregory Dickinson told him: "I am convinced that you are devious, manipulative and highly dangerous to women.

"In my judgment these offences taken together - so many victims, the trail of terror and agony for which you are responsible - mean that the imposition of a sentence of imprisonment for life is fully justified."

Lawrance was arrested after a friend of a woman raped in Derbyshire in November 2014 went to police.

Police investigations revealed he had attacked another six women he met through the site since June 2011.

Prosecuting, Shaun Smith QC told the jury that Lawrance was a Jekyll and Hyde character who targeted "vulnerable, naive, lonely women".

Derby Crown Court heard that four of the victims complained about Lawrance to Match.com, and one of the women was told administrators could not do anything because he had not sent abusive messages through the site.

Detective Chief Inspector Allison Rigby, from Derbyshire Police, said yesterday: "Jason Lawrance is a prolific, serial rapist who preyed on women he had contacted through match.com.

"These women were looking for companionship and instead what they found was a man who was willing to commit serious sexual offences against them.

"After contacting his victims online, Lawrance would quickly move the conversation outside Match.com system.

"He then raped, tried to rape, or sexually assaulted these women, and afterwards he tried to defend his actions by claiming they had consented to it. They absolutely did not."

She added that it was possible other victims of Lawrance were yet to come forward.

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