Rapist who groomed victim over Snapchat convicted
Keiran Hamilton will be sentenced in May
A rapist who groomed a teenage girl on Snapchat before raping and threatening to blackmail his victim has been convicted.
Kieran Hamilton, 21, added the then 14-year-old victim on Snapchat in December 2018 before convincing her to send Hamilton explicit pictures.
Hamilton then used these images as leverage over the victim and forced her to meet up with him twice in Luton in January and February.
On both meet ups Hamilton forced his victim to engage in sexual activity with him in public places, including raping her on one occasion.
The victim told police that she felt she had to do what Hamilton wanted so he would not share the photos of her.
After the second incident the victim spoke to her mother and they reported Hamilton to Bedfordshire Police.
Officers attended the address within an hour and were able to forensically link Hamilton to the attack.
Last year Hamilton, of Chesford Road, Luton, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Having denied two counts of rape, today (Friday) at Luton Crown Court Hamilton was found guilty of one count of rape in connection to his February meeting with the victim, and not guilty of the other count in January.
He is due to sentenced at the same court on 12 May.
Detective Constable Hayley Carroll from Bedfordshire Police’s cyber hub said: “Hamilton’s despicable and predatory behaviour saw him use explicit images as a means of controlling his victim for his own sexual gratification.
“It is absolutely vile and completely wrong. We have a clear focus on tackling any perpetrators of violence against women and girls and putting them behind bars.
“No matter when an offender abused or exploited you, we want to know about it. We will listen and put these people behind bars so they cannot hurt any one else.”