Rapist given 7-year jail sentence after admitting to crimes on secret recording

ITV News

30-07-2025

A rapist who repeatedly altered his account of events in an attempt to avoid conviction has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Jordan Hewitt, aged 33 and from Thorverton, received his sentence at Exeter Crown Court on the 25th July, following his conviction for rape.
The court heard that in May 2022, the victim had been out with friends in Tiverton. At the end of the evening, she received a Facebook message from Hewitt offering her accommodation for the night.
The victim met Hewitt and they went to his brother's house together, as she didn't wish to disturb her mother. She went to sleep fully clothed but was awakened by Hewitt raping her.
She immediately pushed Hewitt away and telephoned her mother for transport home, immediately telling her what had occurred.
Later that day, the victim sent Hewitt a Facebook message asking: 'Why did you do that to me?'.
Hewitt completely dismissed her question, instead asking if she had arrived home safely and suggesting she could ring him if she wished. She subsequently blocked him on Facebook.
Three weeks later, Hewitt encountered one of the victim's friends, who secretly recorded him giving his initial version of events.
In this recording, Hewitt admitted to penetrating the victim before stopping when she pushed him away.
During this account, Hewitt appeared to attempt to justify his actions saying, "She clearly met me for a bit of fun".
He was also recorded threatening that the victim would be forced to leave town and would be assaulted if the matter proceeded to court.
When interviewed, Hewitt claimed the victim had initiated sexual contact. He initially denied making any threats of violence against the victim.
When confronted with part of the secret recording containing the threat, he changed his story, admitting to making the threat but claiming he didn't mean it.
The complete secret recording was then played to Hewitt, containing his account of the incident. This caused him to panic and alter his story once again, now claiming the victim hadn't told him to stop, but there had been 'a bit of a strange moment where she appeared to back away'.
By the time the case reached court, Hewitt had changed his account again, stating in his defence that he had been too intoxicated to engage in sexual activity.
During cross examination, he altered his account once again, stating the pair did not have sex because the victim was facing away from him.
Detective Constable Andrew Stacey from Exeter CID, the officer on the case, commented: 'We welcome the sentence imposed by the court, which wouldn't have been achievable without the bravery and continued cooperation of the victim throughout our investigation.
'I would also like to thank all witnesses who came forward to give evidence, particularly one person whose presence of mind in covertly recording one of Hewitt's accounts was instrumental in exposing his continued deception.
'Hewitt is a manipulative individual who demonstrated complete disregard for the person he harmed. His persistent dishonesty and repeated alterations to his story ultimately sealed his fate.