DERBY RAPIST MATTHEW HEMMINGS SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR BRUTAL SEXUAL ASSAULTS
In a harrowing case that has shocked the city of Derby, Matthew Hemmings, a 41-year-old man, has been sentenced to a total of 20 years and six months in prison for a series of horrific sexual assaults that took place in November 2021.The incident involved a vulnerable homeless woman who was subjected to a brutal and prolonged ordeal of sexual violence, which was both recorded and documented by Hemmings himself.
The disturbing events unfolded on Carrington Street, in the heart of Derby, where Hemmings lured the woman from the doorway of a city centre shop with promises of warmth and shelter.
The woman, who was under the influence of heavy Mamba drug use at the time, was initially approached by Hemmings, who then took her back to his flat.
The flat was located in the city centre, and it was there that the most heinous acts occurred.
According to court reports, Hemmings had prepared a disturbing scene, with sex toys and outfits purchased from Amazon laid out on his bed.
Once inside, the woman was subjected to a series of sexual assaults, including being forced to perform acts on Hemmings while he recorded and photographed her.
The case was described by the prosecutor at Derby Crown Court as “the most extreme rape” he had ever encountered in his career.
The court heard that Hemmings used handcuffs on the victim after encouraging her to take more drugs, rendering her incapacitated and helpless.
Throughout the ordeal, Hemmings humiliated and degraded the woman, filming her in the process.
At one point, he re-emerged wearing a full face mask and wielding a machete, although he did not use the weapon.
The judge, Nirmal Shant QC, described the crime as a catalogue of horrors, emphasizing the prolonged nature of the attack, which lasted approximately three hours.
Hemmings’ actions targeted a vulnerable individual, exploiting her situation for his own gratification.
After the assault, Hemmings released the woman onto the street, where she was later found wandering in tears by a support worker.
The police investigation uncovered the videos Hemmings had made of the assaults, which played a crucial role in securing his conviction.
Hemmings initially claimed that the victim was “compliant throughout,” but he ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault.
During sentencing, Judge Nirmal Shant QC condemned Hemmings’ actions, stating, “In every way possible you humiliated her and recorded what you were doing to her over a prolonged period of some three hours.
You targeted her because she was vulnerable, approaching her as she lay in the doorway of a shop and enticing her back to your flat.
There, you had laid out sex toys and outfits on your bed, which you had bought from Amazon.
She was vulnerable and under the influence of drugs, and once inside your flat, you took photos and recorded her.
You raped and sexually assaulted her while she was helpless.
There was a pause, and you re-emerged in a full face mask and with a machete.
Mercifully, you did not use it on her, but the incident was undoubtedly frightening.” Hemmings’ sentence includes a minimum term of 13 and a half years in custody, followed by an extended license period of seven years.
Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life.
The victim, who has been granted lifetime anonymity, has endured a traumatic experience that will likely affect her for years to come.
The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Derby, highlighting the importance of vigilance and support for vulnerable individuals in society.
