March 1st 2025.
Laurence Rafter, a 43-year-old lorry driver from Barnet, north London, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his despicable actions. It all started when he contacted a 32-year-old woman on a dating app under the false name 'Jay Lincoln'. In July 2021, he went to her home in Islington, where he raped her without her consent and without wearing a condom, despite her explicit request for him to do so.
Before leaving, Rafter revealed to the victim that he was HIV positive, causing her immense fear and distress. However, it was later discovered that this was just another one of his deceitful tactics. In fact, he had gone to great lengths to hide his true identity, setting up a fake address, bank statement, and even using a pre-paid mobile phone to avoid being caught by the police. He even went as far as claiming to live in a multi-million pound house, when in reality he was living in a flat.
After a trial in October, Rafter was found guilty of rape and also pleaded guilty to harassing the victim. But this was not the only time he had committed such heinous acts. In February 2022, he also pleaded guilty to malicious communications and threats to disclose a private image towards two separate victims. In both cases, he had used a fake name and met the women online, before becoming threatening and abusive towards them.
In the face of such disturbing and alarming behavior, Metro has launched a year-long campaign called This Is Not Right, in partnership with Women's Aid, to address the epidemic of violence against women. Throughout the year, we will be sharing stories that shed light on the magnitude of this issue, and we hope to engage and empower our readers to take a stand against it.
We invite you to read more about our campaign and to share your own stories with us by sending an email to our dedicated address. Together, we can make a difference and bring an end to the violence and abuse that too many women face on a daily basis.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley stated that the judge's decision to sentence Rafter to 14 years in prison is a clear indication of the danger he poses to women. He also commended the bravery of the survivor in this case for coming forward and providing crucial evidence. The investigation team worked tirelessly to identify Rafter and gather enough evidence to bring him to justice, ensuring that the victim was supported throughout the process.
Rafter is a predatory offender who used social media to carry out his violent and abusive behavior. He used a fake profile to portray himself as a wealthy businessman and deliberately targeted women to violate, threaten, and harm them. Such calculated and manipulative actions cannot be tolerated, and we must all work together to put an end to them.
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