Courts / Dublin / Report
Man who raped woman he met on dating app caught through "ingenious detective work"
Summary
A 30‑year‑old Meath man, Martin Sherlock, was convicted of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo. The victim had told him they could not have sex without a condom and had repeatedly said "no" during the encounter. Sherlock admitted he had ejaculated inside her and had stolen her mobile phone. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty after a four‑day trial. The court noted that Sherlock had lost his job and cancelled wedding plans. Gardaí arrested him following a sting operation in which they posed as buyers of a phone he was selling. He was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 2 July. The case was presented as a clear instance of non‑consensual sex after the victim's explicit refusal to have sex without a condom.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who raped woman he met on dating app caught through "ingenious detective work". Charges or matters: raping the woman at her Dublin home on August 14, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- August 14, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2nd Adjournment
- 2018-06-18 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: raping the woman at her Dublin home on August 14, 2015 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; He told gardaí: "I know she said no, but we had already started." Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned finalisation of sentence until July 2nd next and remanded Sherlock in custody until that date.; He told gardaí: "I know she said no, but we had already started." Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned finalisation of sentence until July 2nd next and remanded Sherlock in custody until that date.
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