Man jailed for raping teenaged girl in Plymouth
A man who raped a child in Plymouth has been jailed for 19 years.
Marc Dannan, 36, of Duke Street, Plymouth, was found guilty at Plymouth Crown Court of rape, sexual assault and sexual activity with a young girl and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, with an additional one year on licence today, Friday 17 July.
Dannan was also given a 25-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a restraining order was imposed for 25 years.
Following a trial at Plymouth Crown Court, that concluded on Friday 5 June, Dannan was found guilty of three charges of rape, two charges of inciting sexual activity and three charges of sexual assault.
The victim was a child and a teenager at the time of the offending which went on over several years.
Detective Constable Michael Evans, who led the investigation, said: “Marc Dannan, throughout the police investigation and subsequent trial showed no remorse or compassion towards the victim and in police interview, he challenged officers to ‘prove it in court’. The crown obliged him.
“However, rather than centring on the shortcomings of the defendant, I would like to focus on the extraordinary bravery of the victim in this case. She not only gave evidence live from the witness box but did so articulately and with composure.
“She should be rightly proud in not only securing justice for herself but undoubtedly assisting in safeguarding other young females in the future.
“I would also like to thank the jury members for their thoughtful consideration of the evidence, despite the defendant’s careful attempts to conceal the truth. They saw clearly through his lies and the correct verdict was reached.”
Support available
If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. You can also report information and crimes on our website.
Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
There are lots of organisations and support agencies available across Devon and Cornwall that can help provide support.
For more information on rape and serious sexual assault and the support services available, please visit our support pages by clicking here.
Advice and support is also offered by our partner agencies:
• National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
• Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626
Victim care
If you have been affected by crime, please visit Home - Victim Care Devon & Cornwall (victimcare-dc.org) to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
