Matthew Ward, Sophie Eason 37,30

Description

A young woman who was subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of her father and his partner has bravely waived her right to anonymity, as the pair are jailed.

Demi Howes, who is now 18, went to live with her father Matthew Ward and his partner Sophie Eason when she was 15.

Shortly after her 16th birthday, Ward told Demi he could now ‘do what he wanted’ and began having sex with her.

Eason became involved too and was party to the ongoing abuse.

When Ward’s phone was seized by police following an unrelated incident, the abuse was discovered.

Ward’s phone contained messages he had sent to another woman, in which he was trying to instigate a sexual encounter between himself, Demi, and the woman.

Further examination of the phone showed messages which indicated Sophie Eason had also been involved in the abuse of Demi.

Ward, 37, of Boyer Street, and Eason, 30, of Teasel Grove, Derby, were arrested in March 2025 and subsequently charged.

The pair initially denied the charges against them, but on the first day of trial in September last year they changed their pleas and admitted the following offences:

Ward

• Adult sexual activity (non-penetrative) with a girl family member age 13-17 (3x counts)
• Adult sexual activity (penetrative) with a female child family member age 13-17 (5x counts)
• Offender over 18 engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 (1x count)
• Making indecent images of a child (2x counts)
• Distributing indecent images of a child (2x counts)

Eason

• Adult sexual activity (non-penetrative) with a girl family member age 13-17 (2x counts)
• Adult sexual activity (penetrative) with a female child family member age 13-17 (2x counts)

They appeared at Derby Crown Court on 12 June where a judge handed Ward a prison term of 15 years and four months, and Eason a term of two years and eight months.

The pair were also given indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, indefinite Restraining Orders in respect of Demi, and are required to register with police indefinitely.

In her Victim Personal Statement, which she read in court, Demi talked about how she found out Ward was her biological father at the age of 15.

She tracked him down on social media via Eason and went to live with them, after escaping a chaotic and abusive home environment.

“I was excited to meet my father and thought that I might have finally found somewhere I could be safe and belong.

“I thought I might have a chance at a family and being able to be a normal teenager.

“I wasn’t sure how to respond when [Ward] started flirting with me. When he started to sexualise me saying ‘I looked fit’ and I was ‘sexy’ I thought that maybe they were compliments. Maybe that was a normal thing dads do.

“I didn’t know what to do when he came into my bedroom when I was 15 and kissed me.

“When I turned 16 my dad told me I was 16 now and he could do what he wanted. That’s when he started to get Sophie involved and she would join in the abuse.

“It’s sick to think about, my own dad having sex with me and the woman I called mum joining in.

“At the time I thought it was dad and Sophie just being dad and Sophie, they made me think it was normal.

“I get teased about what Sophie and Mathew did to me.

“Some people still don’t believe me and that’s worse sometimes, even though I have told the truth about everything some of my family have rejected me over this.

“I think it’s easier to blame me sometimes than admit what the defendants actually are.”

Addressing the pair directly, Demi went on:

“I have night terrors and PTSD from what you did to me. I wet the bed and physically lash out and scream in my sleep talking about what you did.

“I can still feel what you did when I go to sleep it’s impossible to escape the trauma you have put me through…

“Neither of you should be allowed near children because you are dangerous paedophiles.”

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Gabrielle Rouse, said:

“Demi is an extremely brave and tenacious young woman, who has fought for justice despite not having a secure support system around her.

“The abuse inflicted on Demi by her own father and the woman she thought of as a mother is beyond harrowing.

“No child should have to go through what Demi has been through.

“Her courage has continued throughout the police investigation and court case, which can be extremely difficult for survivors of abuse.

“I want to thank Demi for helping us to investigate and seek justice on her behalf, it is down to her that Ward and Eason are now serving prison terms where they are unable to harm any other children.

“I know that Demi’s decision to speak out and waive her automatic anonymity was something she felt strongly about from the beginning, and I admire her resolve to share her story and allow us to report on the horrendous crimes of Ward and Eason.”