LEWIS STEWART FROM DAWLISH AND TEIGNMOUTH FACES 10 YEARS FOR RAPE IN DEVON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Dawlish and Teignmouth, Lewis Stewart, a 28-year-old man, is now facing a potential decade behind bars after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape. The charges stem from a series of heinous acts committed on January 21 this year, involving two women who were severely intoxicated at the time.

According to court proceedings, Stewart encountered the two women in the aftermath of a night out in Torquay, where they had indulged heavily in cocktails and prosecco during a bottomless brunch that included two hours of free drinks. The women, visibly intoxicated and staggering, were seen wandering around the town center, clearly under the influence of alcohol. Stewart, posing as a helpful individual, initially offered to arrange a taxi to escort them home safely. However, the situation took a sinister turn when he and his girlfriend entered the same taxi after it arrived, following the women to their residence in Paignton.

Once at the women’s flat, the situation deteriorated further. One of the women, so drunk she went straight to bed, was unaware of the events that would follow. Meanwhile, Stewart’s girlfriend took the other woman to a nearby shop to purchase a bottle of vodka. Witnesses described the woman in the shop as so intoxicated that she was exposing her breasts to other customers, highlighting the extent of her drunken state. It was during this vulnerable period that Stewart committed the acts of sexual assault, raping both women while they were unconscious. One of the victims was found to have been photographed naked from the waist down, with her legs spread open, a clear indication of the assault. Neither woman retained any memory of the assaults, waking up to find two strangers in their flat, unaware of what had transpired.

Adding to the gravity of the case, Stewart boasted about the incidents, claiming that both women had participated in threesomes—one with his girlfriend and the other with him and the second victim. He even sent a boastful message after leaving the scene, describing his actions in detail. The evidence further revealed that Stewart had supplied one of the women with an ecstasy tablet, and he himself ingested four of the pills during the night, which was marked by a series of sexual assaults.

The jury at Exeter Crown Court deliberated on the case and found Stewart guilty of three counts of rape—two against one woman and one against the other. The father of one of the victims was present in the courtroom and publicly shouted, “he’s an animal,” as the verdict was announced. Notably, the jury was not informed of Stewart’s extensive criminal history, which includes under-age sexual activity with a teenage girl who had run away from home. Stewart was already on the sex offenders register and had previously served time in prison for breaching a court order that prohibited him from having unaccompanied contact with children.

Judge Stephen Climie addressed the court, expressing gratitude to the jury for their service. He explained that the standard sentencing guideline for a single rape offense is ten years, but given Stewart’s prior convictions and the fact that he committed three rapes, the case is considered highly aggravated. The judge ordered a probation service assessment to evaluate Stewart’s dangerousness, with the possibility of an indefinite sentence being considered.

Originally from Dawlish and now residing in St Patrick’s Close, Teignmouth, Stewart denied the charges but was ultimately convicted of three counts of rape. He was acquitted of a charge related to administering a substance with the intent to facilitate a sexual assault. Stewart had previously admitted to supplying ecstasy but claimed it was at the women’s request and after the sexual acts had occurred.

Throughout the trial, CCTV footage was shown, depicting the two women visibly intoxicated after leaving the bottomless brunch at the Park Lane pub and continuing to drink at the Green Ginger. One woman was seen struggling to stand, repeatedly falling over and being helped by her more sober friend. Footage also captured Stewart arriving on a bus from Teignmouth with his girlfriend, passing the women, then stopping and seemingly offering assistance before touching one of them on the legs and bottom as he entered a taxi with both women. Additional CCTV from a shop in Paignton showed the more sober woman struggling to stand after arriving at her friend’s house.

Prosecutor Mr. Lee Bremridge detailed the events, stating that the two women, who had gone out for the night, encountered Stewart and his girlfriend outside JD’s bar at approximately 9:30 pm. Stewart helped them into a taxi, paid the fare, and accompanied them to their home. Once there, his girlfriend took the more sober woman to buy a bottle of vodka. The women, heavily intoxicated, had no memory of the events but were later found to have been drugged and sexually assaulted. DNA evidence confirmed sexual contact with one woman, while toxicology reports indicated the other had taken drugs. Stewart’s actions, according to the prosecution, exploited the women’s impaired state, making consent impossible.

In court, Stewart maintained that both women were sober enough to consent and had been willing participants in the sexual acts, including the threesomes he described. The case has left a lasting impact on the local communities of Dawlish and Teignmouth, highlighting the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.