A 25-year old has been arrested for raping his pregnant 12-year-old “wife” after setting up home with her in Essex.
The man, of Romany gypsy background, illegally married the girl in their native country last year before moving back to the UK.
He was jailed for six years after admitting to having sex with a minor.
Interestingly, the man, whose name cannot be used for legal reasons, now wants to rekindle his relationship with the girl when he comes out of prison.
The young girl, on the other hand, has apparently moved back to Romania as her delivery date is due, the court was told.
According to Jamie Sawyer, the prosecutor, the age of consent in Romania is 16, the same as UK. He went on to add that the couple met in Romania and the in the victim’s view, no one complained about the age gap between them.
According to a story published in The Sun, he further added, “She has gone back to Romania, and the defendant says how he has a wish to reignite that relationship when he is able.”
According to the story, the illegal marriage was rumbled by cops when on Aril 7, their car was stopped at a car wash in Epping while the man along with his ‘wife’ and two other children were in the car. Detectives later went on to search their home and found a small room with a double bed the paedo and his ‘wife’ shared.
Speaking on behalf of the defendant, a speaker said that this was an ‘exceptional’ case with very ‘unusual circumstance.’
According to her, there was no grooming, exploitation, force or coercion in the case and was consent within a marriage, albeit an unlawful marriage.
She went on to add that it was a widespread practice in an ancient custom that is still used today.
The court was told Romany gypsies are "badly marginalised" in Romania and the defendant's "upbringing" had landed him in court.
According to them, by the time the man was 24, all of his friends and family of similar age were already married.
While passing the sentence, Judge Lynch who proceeded over the case said, “The issue here is the age of consent and age of lawful marriage in Romania is the same as in this country – it is 16 years of age.”
She went on to add that sexual activity with children is against the law and the court was dealing with a 12-year-old child, no matter what the customs are in another land. “She is a child expecting a child I am told in a few short weeks and I am told she will not have an education in Romania. This is not a case of informed consent. Children need to be protected from others and from their selves.”
The man was given full credit for admitting statutory rape and was jailed for six years and will also spend 10 years on the sex offenders register.
