Sick rapist who attacked woman as she slept fully clothed snared by friend in secret recording
A rapist who changed his story multiple times to avoid prison is now behind bars after a quick thinking friend of the victim secretly recorded his account of what had happened.
Jordan Hewitt, of Thorverton, Devon met the victim while she was on a night out in Tiverton with her friends in May 2022. At the end of the night, she went to stay at Hewitt's brother's house as she didn't want to wake her mum but after going to sleep fully clothed, she was awoken by Hewitt raping her.
The victim shoved the rapist off of her and called her mum for a lift home, where she immediately told her what had happened. Exeter Crown Court heard three weeks later 33-year-old Hewitt bumped into one of her friends whose quick thinking led to the secret recording being made.
In the recording Hewitt admitted penetrating her but stopped when she shoved him off. He said that "she clearly met me for a bit of fun" before threatening to beat up the victim if it went to court.
The court heard that the victim messaged Hewitt on Facebook where she asked him "why did you do that to me?". Hewitt ignored her question and asked her if she got home okay and said she could call him if she wanted, but she then blocked him.
In police interview Hewitt said the victim initiated the sex - but he changed his story many times after hearing the recording and then said he was too drunk to have sex.
Then in cross examination Hewitt revised his account again saying that he didn't have sex due to the awkward angle between him and the victim, who was facing away from him.
But a jury rejected his explanations and convicted him of rape and he was jailed for seven and a half years on Friday, July 25. Detective Constable Andrew Stacey, from Exeter CID, praised the witness who covertly recorded "manipulative" Hewitt and "played a crucial role in exposing his ongoing deception".
'We welcome the sentence handed down by the court, which would not have been possible without the courage and continued support of the victim throughout the investigation," he said.
"I would also like to thank all the witnesses who came forward and gave evidence, particularly one individual whose quick thinking to covertly record one of Hewitt's accounts played a crucial role in exposing his ongoing deception.
'Hewitt is a manipulative man who showed a complete lack of regard for the individual he harmed. His persistent dishonesty and repeated changes to his story ultimately led to his downfall.
"I hope this outcome provides the victim with a sense of closure as she continues to move forward with her life.'
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