Description
A Serial Sex Offender from Derby Sentenced for Befriending and Grooming a 13-Year-Old Girl
A 24-year-old serial sex offender named Ethan Hewitt from Derby has been jailed for befriending a 13-year-old girl with mental health issues, calling her "wifey," and discussing having sex with her in a field.
During a sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court, it was revealed that Hewitt exchanged over 3,700 messages with the victim via social media platforms like Snapchat and WhatsApp over a one-month period.
At the time of the offenses, Hewitt was under a sexual harm prevention order due to prior convictions involving underage girls.
Recorder Helen Malcolm sentenced Hewitt, who has no fixed address, to three years and four months in prison.
She stated: “Your previous record is very poor and includes previous breaches. You were on licence throughout the time I am sentencing you for.
“In that month, you were directly in contact with a 13-year-old on a number of occasions, and you also engaged in some 3,794 messages over Snapchat, WhatsApp and other services with her. You also deleted messages.
“I have read the reports which say you have no insight into the effect on your victims. You have shown what is called a ‘wilful defiance’ to authority figures and you actively seek opportunities to offend.
"You pose a very high risk of harm to young females and nearly 4,000 messages with a 13-year-old over the course of one month is a very concerning number.”
Prosecutor Serana Varatharajah explained that Hewitt, formerly of Aylestone in Leicester, was convicted in 2021 at Manchester Crown Court for sexual activity with a female under 16, leading to the imposition of the order, which he breached four times.
He was convicted again for the same offense in March 2023.
The order prohibited any contact with females under 16, but in July 2024, Hewitt befriended the victim secretly, and their interactions turned sexual.
Miss Varatharajah said: “The friendship was kept secret and developed to become sexual. He told her he loved her, he spoke to her about getting married and they spoke about having sex.
“He said they would have to wait until she turned 16 and he told her not to tell anyone about their conversations. He called her ‘wifey’ and she called him ‘hubby’.
“He said if she was not ready for sex they could just kiss and cuddle. He said, as they could not go to a hotel because of her age, they could have sex in a field.”
The victim's mother discovered the communications, leading to police involvement and Hewitt's arrest.
Hewitt pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order and engaging in sexual communication with a child.
Defense attorney Catherine Picardo, mitigating on behalf of Hewitt—who appeared via video link from HMP Lincoln—noted that he is undergoing medical investigations for a possible cancer diagnosis.
She added: “He knows he should not have access to Snapchat. He has a very traumatic upbringing where he was abused, and, since his time in custody, he has been given responsibilities working in the kitchens.
“There is an address available to him in Derby which will be monitored.”
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge imposed an indefinite new sexual harm prevention order, and Hewitt will remain on the sex offender register indefinitely.