A manipulative rapist from Thorverton, Devon, has been imprisoned for seven and a half years after a jury convicted him of a brutal sexual assault. Jordan Hewitt, 33, targeted a vulnerable woman in May 2022, exploiting her situation after a night out with friends in Tiverton. The incident, which unfolded at his brother's house, exposed Hewitt's deceitful nature as he shifted his story multiple times during the investigation and trial.
The victim, who had been socialising in Tiverton, received a Facebook message from Hewitt offering her a place to stay at the end of the evening. Unwilling to disturb her mother, she accepted and accompanied him to the property. She went to sleep fully clothed but was awakened by Hewitt raping her. In a swift act of resistance, she shoved him off and immediately contacted her mother for a lift home, confiding in her about the assault right away. Later that day, the victim messaged Hewitt on Facebook, asking, 'why did you do that to me?' Hewitt callously dismissed the question, replying only to inquire if she had returned home safely and offering her to call him if needed. She promptly blocked him.
- Three weeks after the attack, Hewitt encountered one of the victim's friends and unwittingly provided a recorded admission of his actions.
- In the secret recording, he confessed to penetrating the victim before she pushed him away, attempting to justify it by claiming 'she clearly met me for a bit of fun'.
- He further threatened that the victim would be forced to leave town and beaten up if the case proceeded to court.
During police interviews, Hewitt initially denied initiating sexual activity, blaming the victim. Confronted with the recording of his threat, he admitted to it but claimed he did not mean it. When the full recording was played, revealing his detailed account, he panicked and altered his story again, suggesting the victim had a 'weird moment where she looked like she backed out'. As the case advanced to Exeter Crown Court, his defences continued to evolve: in his statement, he claimed intoxication prevented intercourse; under cross-examination, he asserted the awkward positioning made sex impossible. These inconsistencies ultimately unravelled his deception.
Hewitt was found guilty of rape by a jury and sentenced on Friday, 25 July 2025, at Exeter Crown Court to seven and a half years' imprisonment. The sentencing reflects the severity of his crime and his persistent dishonesty. Detective Constable Andrew Stacey from Exeter CID, the officer in the case, commended the victim's courage, stating: '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. 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.' DC Stacey described Hewitt as 'a manipulative man who showed a complete lack of regard for the individual he harmed', adding that his 'persistent dishonesty and repeated changes to his story ultimately led to his downfall'. The outcome is hoped to bring closure to the victim as she rebuilds her life.
This case, reported by the Mid Devon Advertiser and supported by evidence from Devon & Cornwall Police, underscores the importance of victim support and thorough investigations in securing justice for sexual offences.