DARREN LEWIS FROM LINCOLN FAILS TO OVERTURN CONVICTIONS FOR CHILD RAPE AT LONDON COURT

In August 2014, a disturbing case involving Darren Malcolm Lewis, a man from Lincoln, reached a critical juncture as he sought to have his convictions overturned through an appeal. Lewis, who was convicted of heinous crimes against a young girl, appeared before the Criminal Appeal Court in London, where his legal team argued that the trial had been unfair and that his convictions might be unsafe.

Lewis, aged 39 and residing on Newland Street West in Lincoln, was found guilty of multiple sexual offences, including two counts of raping an eight-year-old girl and six counts of sexual assault on a child under 13. His crimes came to light several years after they occurred, revealing a pattern of disturbing behavior that shocked the local community.

In July of the previous year, Lincoln Crown Court sentenced Lewis to a lengthy prison term of 15 years. During the sentencing, Judge Sean Morris expressed his condemnation of Lewis's actions, emphasizing the severity and depravity of the crimes. The judge described Lewis as a man entirely devoid of remorse, stating, “You are a man completely without remorse… heaven knows what damage you have done to your victim.” The court also noted that Lewis’s mental health condition, including epilepsy and limited intelligence, was considered during sentencing.

At the appeal hearing, Lewis’s legal representatives contended that the trial was flawed, particularly arguing that crucial information about the victim’s level of intelligence should have been presented to the jury. They claimed that this information could have influenced the jury’s assessment of her credibility. Additionally, they pointed to inconsistencies in her written evidence, suggesting possible collusion with an adult and casting doubt on her account of events.

However, the judges—Lord Justice Davis, Mrs Justice Thirlwall, and Mrs Justice Andrews—dismissed these arguments. Mrs Justice Thirlwall clarified that the information regarding the victim’s intelligence was indeed available to the jury and that counsel for Lewis had the opportunity to address it during the trial. She further stated that developing this line of argument further would not have benefited the defense, leading to the rejection of Lewis’s appeal and the affirmation of his convictions.

Earlier, in July 2013, Lewis had been convicted after a three-week trial at Lincoln Crown Court. Despite denying the allegations, he was found guilty of eight sexual offences committed during 2009 and 2010, including the rape of the young girl. The court heard that Lewis had made his victim give evidence against him and accused her of lying about his actions.

Judge Sean Morris, who presided over the trial, sentenced Lewis to 15 years in prison. The court also disqualified him from working with children for life and imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to restrict his lifestyle upon release. During sentencing, the judge emphasized Lewis’s lack of remorse and the potential harm inflicted on his victim. Lewis maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

Mitigation was presented by Michael Cranmer-Brown, who highlighted Lewis’s limited intelligence and the absence of any prior sexual offences, suggesting that his offending appeared to be erratic and not indicative of a pattern. Cranmer-Brown pointed out that there was no evidence of previous similar behavior, which influenced the court’s decision to impose a standard custodial sentence rather than a dangerous offender designation. Despite the severity of the crimes, the court acknowledged that Lewis’s limited intelligence was a significant factor in his sentencing, but it did not diminish the gravity of his actions.