Rapist lured his victims on internet
A‘DEVIOUS and manipulative’ rapist used fake dating profiles to lure women to his home and attack them, a court has heard.
Robert Devereux, 50, of Roseway, Macclesfield, was found guilty after a week-long trial of seven counts of rape and blackmail on one victim and counts of sexual assault and false imprisonment with regards to a second woman.
At a trial at Chester Crown court, a jury heard from prosecutor Matthew Corbett-Jones who described Devereux as a ‘devious and manipulative man’.
The jury heard that Devereux used pictures of a ‘young, athletic and attractive’ man on a pro- file he was controlling on the dating site.
He posed as a younger man and after gaining her trust told her that she should have sex with his friend, who was in fact also Devereux.
The victim was told the ‘second man’ had terminal cancer.
Mr Corbett-Jones said she was told it would be ‘as a test of her affection for him’ and that if she did this she could start a relationship with him.
She agreed and when the woman went to Devereux’s home after the encounter, Devereux, posing as the ‘first man’ said he had compromising videos and pictures of her and the ‘cancer victim’ together.
The woman returned under these threats to Devereux’s home for sex on multiple occasions and also blackmailed into handing over more than £2,000 in cash.
Mr Corbett said that this behaviour was ‘coercive and manipulative’ and that the ‘lack of true consent was an irrelevance to him’.
Mr Corbett-Jones told the jury that Devereux again used false pictures and names on the website to lure a second woman.
She became ‘besotted’ and agreed to drive to his home.
Mr Corbett-Jones said: “She was convinced that it was his fantasy for her to let herself into his house, enter the bedroom and blindfold herself before he came in.”
The court heard that Devereux sexually assaulted the alleged victim after she realised he was not the man she thought he was.
When she realised Devereux was not the man in the profile he forcibly grabbed her wrists and said ‘it doesn’t matter, you’re here now, you will told’.
After the guilty verdicts were delivered Judge Pat- do what you’re rick Thompson remanded Devereux into custody.
He will be sentenced on Tuesday, December 18.