Rapist posed as teenager to prey on schoolgirl he met on Snapchat

A rapist posed as a teenager to prey on a 12-year-old girl he met on Snapchat a week earlier.

Christian Lambert, 21, raped the schoolgirl at a house in Slateford, Edinburgh, in March last year.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Friday how Lambert befriended the girl after exchanging messages with her on the social media network.

Prosecutor Leanne McQuillan told Judge Lord Summers: “She contacted an online friend called Chris, who is the accused.

“She had known him through Snapchat for about a week.

“She advised that she initially believed him to be 14 or 15 years old.”

The court heard how Lambert met the girl in Edinburgh before they returned to a flat where he was staying at.

Ms McQuillan said: “They left briefly around midnight to visit a local park. On their return to the flat, they kissed and cuddled.

“The complainer has a very vague recollection of the details of what happened but recalled that she had been repeatedly falling asleep and recalled the accused [sexually assaulting her].

“He also choked her during the course of the incident.”

The court heard that the girl told police about what happened to her the following day. Detectives launched an investigation and discovered forensic evidence, which allowed them to build their case against Lambert.

The story emerged after Lambert, of Slateford, pleaded guilty to raping the child on an occasion between March 27 and March 28, 2024.

Defence advocate Graham Robertson said his client was a first offender and the court was obliged to call for reports into Lambert’s background before he could be sentenced.

Lord Summers deferred sentence on Lambert until February 5, 2025 – he will reappear at the High Court in Edinburgh on that date.

Lord Summers told Lambert that the bail, which was given to him following arrest, wasn’t being continued.

Lord Summers told the accused about next month’s court appearance: “You will be remanded until that date.”