JASON HAWKINS FROM KINGBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR ABDUCTING AND RAPE OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN DEVON

In May 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving Jason Hawkins, a man from Kingsbridge, who committed a heinous crime against a 14-year-old girl in the South West region of England. The incident began when Hawkins, aged 49 at the time, engaged in online conversations with the young girl through the popular karaoke application StarMaker, a social media platform widely used by teenagers, especially girls.

After their initial online interaction, Hawkins drove from his home in Kingsbridge to the West Midlands to pick up the girl, leaving her parents in a state of extreme distress and worry. The court heard that Hawkins then transported her to a campsite in Devon, where he subjected her to sexual abuse and rape inside his caravan. Plymouth Crown Court was informed of the details of this tragic event, which revealed the extent of Hawkins' depravity.

Judge Simon Carr described Hawkins' actions as profoundly disturbing, emphasizing the defendant’s “depravity” in overpowering the young girl on his bed despite her repeated pleas to stop. The judge highlighted that the relationship had become manipulative, controlling, and threatening, with sexualized discussions taking place between a 48-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl. The court also learned that Hawkins had thrown the girl’s phone into a river as he moved her into his caravan, attempting to destroy evidence of their contact.

Despite this, law enforcement was able to track Hawkins down using details obtained from the girl’s computer. The victim had been using StarMaker, which is known for its popularity among teenagers, as a means of communication. Interestingly, Hawkins had previously contacted police himself, claiming that he believed the girl was being sexually abused by someone else, which added complexity to the case.

Hawkins pleaded guilty in November to multiple charges, including rape, sexual activity with a child, child abduction, and meeting a child following sexual grooming. He had no prior convictions but was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The court was told that Hawkins would not be eligible for release until he had served at least two-thirds of his sentence, which equates to more than seven years.

During their interactions, Hawkins paid the girl compliments and even claimed to have been a secret agent working in the intelligence services. Their conversations eventually turned sexual, with both exchanging explicit images of themselves. The court heard that in November, Hawkins rented a car and drove to pick her up from a shop near her home in the Dudley area, where her parents were described as being “frantic with worry.”

Following the abduction, Hawkins moved the girl into his caravan, where they watched television and went shopping together. However, the situation took a dark turn when Hawkins performed a sexual act on her and subsequently raped her. The victim later provided a statement describing the emotional and psychological toll the ordeal had taken on her. She revealed that she had engaged in self-harm, experienced flashbacks, and suffered from sleepless nights. In her words, she expressed feelings of worthlessness and despair, stating, “I just feel so low after all of this. I just want to lie in bed all day. I have felt that I am worth nothing. I have hurt myself to get rid of this feeling. I have gone to sleep hoping that I would not wake up the next day.”

In response to the case, the court issued an indefinite restraining order preventing Hawkins from making any contact with the girl in any form. Additionally, a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed, allowing authorities to monitor his behavior around children and on the internet. Hawkins is also required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.