A MAN who raped a 15-year-old girl in the sea on Bournemouth beach has been found guilty by jury.

Gabriel Marinoaica, of Darlastan, Walsall, West Midlands, was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault and another charge of rape.

During a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, prosecutor Ellie Fargin said the victim had been in the sea with friends on July 18, 2021, when they began playing with a ball with another group.

After her friends left the water, the victim went to fetch her ball that had floated towards the defendant.

She said Marinoaica, now 20, initially refused to give it back before returning it to her.

After exchanging names, the girl said he pulled her arm deeper into the water, where she could not reach the bottom, before touching her ‘everywhere’.

The court heard that the girl could not swim and was pulled out of her depth. 

She said she told the defendant 'no' and to ‘get off’ but that he ignored her.

The defendant reportedly then asked her if she wanted to “smash”, meaning to have sex, which the complainant said she did not want to.

The girl said he groped her and raped her for about a minute before someone approached and she was able to get away.

She added that she could not scream because the defendant held his hand over her mouth.

The girl’s two friends said when she returned from the water she began to cry.

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

Judge Susan Evans KC remanded the defendant in custody to be sentenced on April 19.

She told him: “You have been convicted by the jury of what are really serious offences.

“It was a brazen thing to have done in broad daylight on the beach.

“I am afraid I cannot grant you bail but I order a pre-sentence report - the only outcome is custody in any event.”

Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins, of MCIT, said: “We have carried out extensive and detailed enquiries to identify the culprit for this horrific sexual attack and I want to praise the young victim in the case for the courage she has shown throughout the investigation and court process.

“I hope the bravery she has shown will encourage other victims of sexual offences to have the strength to come forward in the knowledge that they will be supported, and we will do everything we can to ensure offenders face justice.

“I want to thank all those involved in this complex investigation and the Crown Prosecution Service for its assistance in bringing the case to trial and securing the conviction of Gabriel Marinoaica.”

The 20-year-old warehouse worker was acquitted of a fourth charge of sexual assault by biting her neck.