Locations
St Michaels Avenue, Margate, Kent, CT9
Description
A Margate man who raped a woman on a Ramsgate beach has been jailed for eight years following an investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
Oliver Cooper, 20 and of St Michaels Avenue, committed the offence in August 2016 and was found guilty following a trial in December 2017.
He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court today (February 2) and, further to his custodial sentence, will appear on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
The court had previously heard that Cooper was known to his victim and they had agreed to meet.
During this meeting however, in the early hours of 7 August, he grabbed hold of her throat and raped her on the beach.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Tania Pickering of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: Cooper is a predatory sex offender who has failed to acknowledge the impact his behaviour has had on his victim.
After first putting her through a harrowing and demeaning ordeal, he then made her face the anguish of going through a criminal trial.
Her courage and bravery has been exemplary and, while the sentence cannot undo the damage Cooper has done, I hope the victim can take comfort from the fact justice has been served.