RAPIST SOLDIER GROOMED TEEN VICTIM ONLINE
Predator pounced on girl after sending sick pics
AN EX-SOLDIER who raped a schoolgirl he groomed on Facebook and Snapchat was yesterday jailed for five years.
John Fawcett, 26, made contact with his victim on social media, “flirted” with her and sent her photos of his privates.
She agreed to meet him at a secluded spot near Leslie, Fife, but said no when he made sexual moves on her.
The young woman told the jury Fawcett forced her to the ground, started to kiss her before pinning her down and raping her.
Judge Lord Brailsford told Fawcett, who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, he had no option but to send him to jail. He added: “I take into account the fact that you have served your country. However, you have been convicted of a very serious offence.
“I must mark the seriousness of this offence by imposing a prison sentence. It will be one of five years.”
Fawcett was arrested after the young woman went to police, having told a friend and her gran about the attack at the Back Braes in October 2016. Fawcett, from Leslie, denied the accusations but was convicted of rape following a three-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.
Jurors took two hours to return a majority guilty verdict.
Prosecution lawyer Jim Keegan QC Keegan told the jury: “She told you about how they made contact on Facebook and Snapchat and were flirting with each other. Some of the messages were salacious.
“They agreed to meet up with each other. The accused started indulging in action which was unwelcome. She said no but he persisted nonetheless.”
Lord Brailsford also placed Fawcett on the sex offenders’ register.