Christopher Hotine

Christopher Hotine, a 39-year-old man from Paignton, Devon, was convicted at Exeter Crown Court of committing multiple violent sexual offences against a woman on two separate dates. The trial, which concluded at the end of the previous year, revealed the terrifying nature of the attacks, leading to Hotine's sentencing on Friday, 6 February 2025.

On the first occasion, Hotine poured a bottle of wine over the victim's head, locked her in a room, repeatedly pulled her hair, restricted her breathing, and raped her. These actions demonstrated a deliberate intent to control and terrorise the victim. The court heard detailed evidence of the physical and psychological harm inflicted during this assault.

• Hotine locked the victim in a room to prevent escape.
• He restricted her breathing, heightening the fear and danger.
• The rape was accompanied by repeated hair-pulling and verbal abuse.

The second incident occurred when Hotine unlawfully entered the victim's home and bedroom in the early morning, attacking her while she was in bed and raping her again. This intrusion into her private space exacerbated the victim's sense of vulnerability and fear. The offences, which also included sexual assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, had a profound psychological impact on the victim, as testified during the proceedings.

Detective Constable Garry Harding, the officer in the case from Devon and Cornwall Police, commented on the sentencing: 'We welcome the sentence given to Christopher Hotine today which means a dangerous rapist has been taken off the streets for some time. Hotine subjected his victim to terrifying sexual violence and has never had the courage to admit the offences, resulting in the victim having to give evidence at trial.' Harding further noted that Hotine's actions were designed to instil fear, and expressed hope that the sentence would provide closure for the victim.

The court imposed a custodial sentence of 19 years' imprisonment, with an additional six years on extended licence, reflecting the severity of the crimes and Hotine's lack of remorse. This outcome was reported by Devon and Cornwall Police in their official news release, underscoring the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in securing justice for victims of serious sexual offences.