Man raped teenage girl who couldn’t swim after taking her into deeper waters on UK beach, court hears

A 20-year-old man raped a 15-year-old girl after taking her into the sea near Bournemouth beach on a busy summer day, a court heard.

Gabriel Marinoaica, from Walsall, West Midlands, stood trial at Bournemouth Crown Court on one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Ellie Fargin said the alleged victim was in the sea with friends on July 18, 2021, when she began playing with a ball in the water with another group of people.

When the girl’s friends returned to the beach, the girl encountered the defendant and Marinoca picked up the ball after it was kicked away.

The defendant then allegedly asked the girl for her name and age before introducing himself as Darby, from Birmingham.

Ms Fagin said: “At this point the defendant pulled away [her] He stretched out his arms and pulled her into the sea.

“[She] She could no longer hit the bottom, she was really in deep water. [She] The defendant was told “don’t get off me” but he ignored her.

“He touched her everywhere and she felt uncomfortable and wanted to get out but the defendant held her back further.”

Ms Fagin said that when the teen said she did not want to have sex, Marinoaica groped her, kissed her neck and raped her for about a minute until someone approached.

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She said the alleged victim was unable to scream because the defendant had his hand over her mouth.

Ms Fagin said: “He took her out of her depth, he made her vulnerable, she couldn’t even swim and he probably didn’t know that but he probably knew she couldn’t reach bottom.

“Why would he do that? So he can do what he wants.”

The teenager told her family about the incident, who then notified police.

Marinoaica was arrested 11 months later and semen found in the girl’s bikini matched his DNA, the court heard.

The 20-year-old man denies all charges and claims the complainant initiated sex with him.

The trial continues.