The detective who led the investigation into rapist Jason Lawrance has warned there may be other victims.
Lawrance (pictured above) was found guilty at Derby Crown Court yesterday for the rape of five women, attempted rape of another and for brutally assaulting a seventh between June 2011 and November 2014. Sentencing takes place today.
He met his victims through the dating site Match.com, where he used the profile names KeepItStraightToday and StraightMan-Looking to approach women, some of whom he later assaulted or raped.
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Speaking after the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Allison Rigby said: "He contacted thousands of women through Match.com but, clearly, he would not have met all of those people so it is impossible to say exactly how many people he came into [physical] contact with.
"He was in contact with a lot of these woman simultaneously and on a regular basis. Only Jason Lawrance will know how many people he sexually assaulted. It is possible there are other victims."
Lawrance denied the rape charges, insisting he had consensual sex with the women.
Writing in the Derby Telegraph, crime reporter Martin Naylor said he had been "repulsed" by Lawrance's "arrogance" and his refusal to accept "the gravity and extent of his shocking crimes".
The jury heard that Lawrance had messaged a victim with "Boo! Xx" 24 hours after attempting to rape her at her house in Spalding, Lincolnshire. In another case, he raped a woman despite her "screaming hysterically", the BBC reported.
He then sent her a text message which read: "When you were crying out for me to stop I couldn't, I'm so mad at myself xxx". A separate message said: "I was disgusted with myself for hurting you. I am so sorry. I am too rough for you xxx xx".
DCI Rigby praised the victims for their bravery in giving evidence. "Jason Lawrance is a prolific, serial rapist who preyed on women he had contacted through Match.com," she said. "These women were looking for companionship and instead what they found was a man who was willing to commit serious sexual offences against them."
Derbyshire's police and crime commissioner Alan Charles said the rapes showed dating sites could be dangerous. "Personal safety advice used to incorporate avoiding walking down dark alleys at night," he said, "but the internet can be the darkest alley of all."
