Paignton man jailed for rape

A Paignton man has been jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years after he raped a woman.

Matthew Hughes, 29, of Southfield Road, will also have to sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Hughes was convicted of rape following a trial in August. He was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Monday 11 November.

Police staff Investigator Kelly Beer, who led the investigation said: “I welcome the sentence passed by the judge and I would like to praise the courage of the victim for reporting this to us and for engaging with the investigation through to the conclusion of the legal process.

“Devon & Cornwall Police will always actively investigate any such crime and seek to bring those responsible to justice and we would encourage victims to come forward and report offences to us.

“We will listen, and you will be heard.”

Support available

If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. You can also report information and crimes on our website.

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There are lots of organisations and support agencies available across Devon and Cornwall that can help provide support.

For more information on rape and serious sexual assault and the support services available, please visit our support pages by clicking here.

Advice and support is also offered by our partner agencies:
• National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
• Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626

Victim care

If you have been affected by crime, please visit Home - Victim Care Devon & Cornwall (victimcare-dc.org) to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.