Vile rapist plied girl, 14, with cocaine and alcohol

A RAPIST plied a vulnerable teenager he'd met on Facebook with alcohol and cocaine before sexually abusing her.

- ANDREW BARDSLEY

Reece Austick was 21 when he raped and sexually abused his 14-year-old victim. She travelled to Manchester alone and visited his flat, where the offences were committed.

He gave her alcohol and cocaine and later Austick sexually abused and raped her.

Manchester Crown Court heard that the pair connected on Facebook, where they had mutual friends, but had never met before.

Austick lied about his age, at first claiming he was 15, then 17. But at the time, he was actually 21.

She later travelled to Manchester to meet Austick in person. He took her back to his home, where a friend of his was also present.

Austick suggested to the girl that she should have some cocaine, and she did so, prosecutor Helena Williamssaid. They went to sleep in the same bed.