Dating website rapist Jason Lawrance appeals vasectomy lie convictions
Written by News on 19/09/2019
A man found guilty of two counts of rape after lying about undergoing a vasectomy is appealing the convictions.
Jason Lawrance got a woman pregnant in July 2014 after he told her that he had had a vasectomy, but later passed it off as “just banter”.
Despite reassurances, a jury heard how the 54-year-old messaged her the following day to say: “I have a confession. I’m still fertile. Sorry.”
Lawrance’s lawyer, Shaun Draycott, has told Sky News that they are appealing the convictions and “there is hope” that the challenge will be successful.
“If these convictions are upheld on appeal, the concern is that members of the public, both male and female, who have never been considered criminals in the eyes of the law will be at risk of prosecution for serious sexual offences,” Mr Draycott said.
The lawyer did not elaborate on the reasons why he thought the appeal, lodged on 28 August, would be successful, save for echoing his concern about the “danger for others” that may follow if the convictions are upheld.
The vasectomy convictions were part of Lawrance’s trial in July, when he was found guilty of sex attacks on five women who he met on an internet dating site.
The court heard that Lawrance made contact with thousands of women on Match.com and its partner site between 2009 and 2014, attacking 12 of them to “satisfy a selfish sexual need.”
Lawrance was previously jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years and six months in 2016 for sexually violating seven women.
He offered no defence during his second trial, but still denied seven counts of rape, one charge of sexual assault and a further charge of assault by penetration, claiming all the acts had been consensual.
However, he was found guilty of five counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one charge of assault by penetration and was called a “devious and manipulative sexual predator” by the judge.
The jury cleared Lawrance of two further charges of rape.
Lawrance’s lawyer told Sky News they are only appealing the two convictions that involve false declarations of infertility.
Lawrance’s other convictions are the subject of an ongoing review, Mr Draycott explained, adding that he and Lawrance’s counsel, David Emanuel, are considering whether grounds exist to appeal the remaining convictions.
Lawrance has not appealed previously.
(c) Sky News 2019: Dating website rapist Jason Lawrance appeals vasectomy lie convictions
