In the Media

Online dating warning after woman raped and beaten

PUBLISHED March 19, 2012
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The 27-year-old was left "unrecognisable" after the attack, which happened just four days after she began speaking to Peter Ramsey, 26, on plentyoffish.com.

The pair went on a first date but, after she declined to kiss him, he knocked her to the ground, ripped off her tights and raped her.

Inner London Crown Court heard Ramsey caused 21 different injuries, knocking out her front teeth and leaving her fearing she would die.

He has been found guilty of rape, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and theft following the attack, on August 27 last year.

The officer in charge of investigating the case, DC Richard Huggins, has now warned other internet daters to be cautious, and "thoroughly vet" the people they intend to meet.

He said: "He [Ramsey] posed a severe risk to other women on that internet site, which he had been using for a number of years."

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she met Ramsey on plentyoffish.com, which claims to be "responsible for more dates and more relationships than any other dating site".

She said: "'He seemed like a nice guy. The date was going very well. I thought we had a lot in common."

The pair met for drinks at 7pm in Brixton, south London, and went for dinner before hailing a cab to the woman's flat in Clapham Common.

But when she pulled back from a kiss at the front door, she said, he "switched".

The court heard Ramsey pinned her against the wall in the communal entrance hall, punching her repeatedly in the face until she slumped to the ground.

When she tried to scream for help, he put his hand over her mouth and pinched her nose shut, while continuing to hit her with the other fist.

Leaving her bleeding, he stole her handbag and used her Oyster travelcard to board a nightbus and escape.

She said: "I thought I was going to die."

Once Ramsey had left, she managed to call for help and was discovered by a member of the public.

Her own mother, who heard the screams, came out of her home moments later to find her disfigured daughter.

The next day, Ramsey attempted to call the woman and left two voicemail messages telling her he was sorry, he had sobered up and felt something had happened that "wasn't good".

He was arrested a week later thanks to a DNA match and CCTV footage showing him on a bus near the scene.

Initially he told police the sex had been consensual and that he had witnessed her arguing with another man who had beaten her.

During the trial, he told jurors had been out with "hundreds of women" and did not need to rape because he could "get anyone he wanted".

He was found unanimously guilty following a trial and is now awaiting sentence on April 27.

Judge Patricia Lees told him: "It seems to me the violence meted out was frankly horrific and wholly unnecessary to commit the offence of rape.

"You face an extremely lengthy sentence of imprisonment."

Following the trial, DC Richard Huggins said: "I feel relieved that somebody like Ramsey who had access via the internet to so many women, is now safely behind bars.

"This woman was unrecognisable after the attack, compared to the woman who gave evidence.

"'I have been in the police for 14 years and these were some of the most shocking facial injuries I have ever seen."

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