Bournemouth beach: Man took teen out to sea to rape her, court hears

A man took a teenage girl who could not swim out of her depth in the sea and raped her, a court has heard.

Gabriel Marinoaica, 20, allegedly assaulted the 15-year-old in Bournemouth in July 2021.

The girl had been in the water with friends on a busy summer's day before being pulled out to sea, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

Mr Marinoaica, from the West Midlands, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape and four counts of sexual assault.

Ellie Fargin, prosecuting, said the girl was with friends when she started playing with a ball from another group in the water.

After her friends went back to the beach, the teenager fetched the ball after it was kicked away and had been picked up by Mr Marinoaica, who initially refused to give it back, it was heard.

Ms Fargin said he asked her name and age before saying his name was Dabby and he was from Birmingham.

The prosecutor said: "It was at this point the defendant pulled at (her) arm and pulled her out to sea.

"(She) could no longer touch the bottom, she really was in deep water. (She) told the defendant 'no get off me' but he ignored her.

"He was touching her everywhere, she was uncomfortable and wanted to get out but the defendant pulled her out further."

Mr Marinoaica then asked the teenager if she wanted to have sex, to which she said she did not, jurors were told.

Ms Fargin alleged the defendant then groped the complainant, kissed her and bit her neck before he raped her until someone approached.

The complainant reported she could not scream because Mr Marinoaica, from Darlaston, had his hand over her mouth.

She told her family what had happened and they informed the police, the prosecution said.

Mr Marinoaica was arrested 11 months later after his DNA was found in the complainant's bikini, jurors were told.

The court heard he told police the complainant had "come up and kissed him" and asked him where he was from and he had said Romania.

He claimed she had initiated sexual activity and asked him if he wanted to have sex.

Prosecutor Ms Fargin added he had told officers the complainant had "her legs wrapped around his waist and it lasted five to 10 minutes".

The trial continues.

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