CHRISTOPHER HAWKER, TAUNTON, SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE

In July 2014, a man previously convicted of child abuse was sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexually assaulting a young girl. Christopher Hawker, a former butcher turned groundsman for the local council, was found guilty of raping a girl between the ages of 7 and 14 over a span of five years. Hawker, who previously received a 15-month sentence in 2011 for multiple indecent assault counts but served only half, displayed no remorse during his latest trial.

He was convicted on two counts of raping a child under 13 and received a 13-year prison term for each count, to be served concurrently. Throughout the trial, Hawker exhibited arrogance; notably, he offered to show a picture of his genitals to prove his claim that a man couldn't fit inside his young victim. He stated in court, “I don’t want to be crude or distasteful,” smirked, then added, “I’m a big man,” while patting his stomach and saying, “And I don’t mean my frame. I have pictures to prove it.” The courtroom reacted with gasps, and the judge looked visibly disgusted. On July 7, 2014, at Taunton Crown Court, Hawker was found guilty of the child rape.

In addition to his imprisonment, Hawker was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was permanently barred from working with children.

A survivor of Hawker’s abuse, Alice (name changed for privacy), spoke out about her experience. Now in her early twenties, Alice described how the court’s guilty verdict finally allowed her to sleep without the light on for the first time since childhood. Her ordeal had cast a long shadow over her life, contributing to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues, for which she has received therapy since a breakdown at age 19. To escape her memories, she left Taunton at 18 and later found happiness and support with her partner, Jessica (name changed).

Alice recounted how Hawker was perceived locally as a respected man—a family man and a Taunton native—concealing his dark secrets from the community. “He’s a local man, Taunton-born and bred, a family man to everybody else,” she said. “Little did everyone know he had this horrendous dark side he managed to keep so hidden for so long.” Her trauma also affected her relationship with Jessica, who gradually uncovered the extent of her past. Jessica described how the relationship revealed the abuse, saying, “It came out in dribs and drabs. As our relationship developed I pieced it together until one day I had to ask her if she’d been raped.” Therapy confirmed that Alice had been groomed, which strengthened her resolve to report Hawker to the police in December 2012. Jessica made the initial call, with Alice present, leading to Hawker’s arrest a year later.

Alice emphasized the importance of speaking out. “The longer I didn’t say anything, the longer he was getting away with it, and he knew that,” she explained. She detailed her struggles with returning to Taunton, avoiding everyday activities, and feeling like a prisoner in her own life, with memories haunting her. Hawker’s profession as a butcher, along with his slaughter license since age 16, often triggered memories, especially when encountering certain smells. Despite her pain, Alice praised the police, CPS, and court staff, highlighting Detective Constable Jason Earl’s compassionate support. “There’s a supportive network out there,” she said. “If this has happened to you and you’re suffering in silence, there are people and organizations ready to help. It doesn’t matter how long ago the abuse happened—reach out. You don’t have to hide anymore.”

Looking ahead, Alice plans to undergo intensive psychological therapy and hopes to enjoy simple pleasures most take for granted, like sleeping with the window open, going on outings, or having children. She acknowledged that her past will always be part of her, but now she feels empowered to embrace life.

Cautioning others, Alice warned that Hawker might be released early on good behavior, despite a 13-year sentence, as law allows the possibility of early release after seven years. She expressed concern, “He may have been given 13 years, but the law says he could be out in seven if he’s a good boy. He still might come back to this society and this town. It’s where his family is, what he knows.” Jessica added, “He’s very clever. You wouldn’t have a clue. He looks like your average Joe. He’s manipulative as a whole. When asked why he did what he did, he said, ‘I don’t know.’ There’s no remorse, no emotion—just pure manipulation. But the truth will always out.” Alice reflected on the judge’s closing words: “What sort of a man does this? It will stay with me forever.”

Support and resources remain available for victims of sexual violence. The police encourage anyone with information or who has experienced abuse to contact them via 101 or through the secure online reporting form at http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact-us. For recent attacks, dial 999. The Bridge service offers comprehensive support, including crisis aid, medical examinations, counseling, and specialized help for children and young people, accessible through their website, phone, or email.