Lewis Stevens, 34, of Newtown Green, Ashford, was convicted by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court of ten charges including five counts of child rape and sentenced to an extended term of 22 years and six months in custody, followed by six years and six months on licence.
A jury at Maidstone Crown Court found Lewis Stevens, 34, of Newtown Green, Ashford, guilty on 10 charges of sexual offending against children and adults — five of them rape of a child. On 16 July he was handed an extended sentence of 22 years and six months in prison. He will serve a further six years and six months on licence when he becomes eligible for parole.
The investigation started in 2021 after two children alleged Stevens had raped them in the late 2000s. As officers dug further, a woman reported he had also raped her, a second adult complainant said he had sent her indecent images of himself, and a third child was identified as a victim of sexual assault. Stevens was arrested in November 2021. He denied everything, forcing a full jury trial.
Detective Constable Robert Hughes, who led the investigation, said: “Stevens’ sickening crimes occurred over a prolonged period of time, showing him to be a persistent and remorseless danger to the community.”
DC Hughes added that the victims had endured “horrific experiences” and that Stevens’ denial of his actions had forced them to relive them in what must have been “a very difficult court process”. DC Hughes said he hoped the length of the sentence would give those Stevens had abused a sense that justice had been served.
Stevens’ offending spanned a prolonged period, beginning with the child rapes alleged to have taken place in the late 2000s. Under the terms of the extended sentence, he will remain subject to supervision and restriction long after any eventual release.