Bexhill rapist jailed for ten years

A young Bexhill man, who had previously served a custodial sentence for a series of violent and coercive offences against a young girl, and against two other girls, has now been sentenced for sexual offences against two of the girls.

Lewis Jackson, 19, a hairdresser of Filsham Drive, Bexhill, was sentenced to a total of ten years at Hove Crown Court on Friday (30 August), having been convicted in July of raping a 17-year old girl on five occasions in 2017, when he too was 17, and of sexual assault on the other girl when she was 15 and when Jackson was 16.

All the offences took place in Bexhill in 2016 and 2017.

In May and June 2018 he had been sentenced to a total of a 24 weeks detention for controlling and coercive behaviour against two girls to run consecutively to the six months detention he had been given on 14 May after being convicted of a series of similar offences against a third girl.

He also has indefinite restraining orders prohibiting him from contacting any of his victims.

Police first became aware of Jackson when they began receiving third party reports back in 2017 about his behaviour towards his then girlfriend, beginning with three different assaults over a couple of months.

Following police enquiries it became apparent that Jackson was also controlling his then girlfriend and two previous girlfriends came forward to disclose similar behaviour. Jackson was arrested and interviewed but denied everything that was put to him. He was charged and then convicted of those offences and during that investigation, two of the victims found the courage to disclose the sexual offences. These were then investigated separately, resulting in convictions and the sentencing on 30 August.

Detective Constable Sally O'Shaughnessy of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "The victims are relieved to have been believed but their main concern was to prevent any future behaviour by Jackson. Although this may offer them some reassurance and closure, they both have a long road ahead of them in terms of rebuilding their trust and faith in human nature.

"However anyone who finds themselves at risk of physical abuse or sexual exploitation in any way need not suffer in silence.

"You can contact us at any time online or by calling 101, and can arrange to talk in confidence to experienced investigators.

"We will also help you to access sources of further information, support and advice."

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