JAY HUBBARD FROM DARTMOUTH SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRLS NEAR DARTMOUTH

In November 2019, a disturbing case of online predation culminated in the imprisonment of Jay Hubbard, a 25-year-old man from Dartmouth, for heinous sexual offenses involving underage girls. Hubbard’s criminal activities primarily revolved around grooming and exploiting vulnerable teenagers through various social media platforms, including Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram.

Hubbard employed multiple false online identities—aliases such as Ben Jones, Jack Goodman, and Jaybo—to target three underage girls. His manipulative tactics involved sending sexually explicit messages and engaging in inappropriate conversations, which ultimately led to the assault of one girl at a residence near Dartmouth. The victim, who was only 15 at the time, was subjected to a rape that has had a profound and lasting impact on her life.

It was revealed that Hubbard was not a stranger to the justice system. He was previously registered as a sex offender after assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2011. His past also included a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with minors. Despite these legal restrictions, Hubbard continued to breach the order and the sex offenders’ register, demonstrating a troubling pattern of disregard for the law and the safety of minors.

The assault on the 16-year-old girl was particularly severe. According to court reports, Hubbard forced her into rough oral sex during a period when she was struggling to breathe and attempting to push him away. The incident marked a significant escalation from their previous consensual encounter when she was 15. The trauma inflicted by Hubbard’s actions caused the girl to withdraw socially, transforming from an outgoing and popular individual into someone who was afraid to leave her home.

The police investigation uncovered Hubbard’s illegal activities after officers discovered a hidden laptop and mobile phone beneath his mattress during a routine search at his residence. These devices contained evidence of his use of multiple online identities and his contact with underage girls. The investigation revealed that Hubbard had spent two nights with the girl he raped, in direct violation of his SHPO and registration obligations.

During the court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, Hubbard admitted to multiple charges, including rape, three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, one count of sexual communication with a minor, and six breaches of the SHPO and sex offenders’ register. Prosecutor Mr. Peter Coombe highlighted Hubbard’s predatory behavior, emphasizing his fixation on underage girls and his manipulative use of social media to pursue his interests.

Judge Timothy Rose sentenced Hubbard to six and a half years in prison. In addition to the custodial sentence, the judge imposed a new SHPO to prevent Hubbard from creating false online identities or engaging in similar conduct in the future. Hubbard’s actions have not only led to his incarceration but also serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.