DATING APP RAPIST JAILED FOR 5 YEARS
Pervert, 30, forced victim to have sex without a condom
Martin Sherlock A MAN who was due to get married next month has been jailed for raping a woman he met on a dating app.
Martin Sherlock, 30, and the victim had arranged to meet but she told him they could not have sex without a condom.
She started to feel uncomfortable during other sexual activity and said he did not stop when she said “No”.
The woman said she thought Badoo was “a way to meet boys” but she did not know how to talk to them and said they just wanted sex after meeting.
Sherlock was jailed for five years after raping the woman at her Dublin home on August 14, 2015. He had admitted stealing the victim’s mobile phone.
The accused was convicted following a four-day trial and the Central Criminal Court heard he has lost his job and his wedding plans have been cancelled.
Gardai arrested him following a sting operation involving the sale of a phone.
He told them: “I know she said no but we had already started.”
Mr Justice Patrick Mccarthy noted the woman had previously been diagnosed with a mental illness and had stated in her victim impact report she kept telling herself she had “been an idiot”.
He added: “This couldn’t be further from the truth. She trusted someone and he abused her trust.”
A prosecution lawyer said the key issue in the case was the victim had said no to sex without a condom.
The judge said Sherlock, from Athlumney Wood, Navan, Co Meath, had contested the matter but he had taken into account testimonials from his fiancee and mother.
He noted the defendant was “otherwise of good character” before jailing him and handing down a supervision term.
A defence lawyer said Sherlock was “profoundly sorry” for the events.