by Keith Hunt

A pervert has been jailed for 13 years for the "grave" sexual abuse of two girls dating back almost 20 years.

Lee Hewitt, who has since married and had children, was convicted of one charge of rape, three of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and one of indecent assault involving one victim and three of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child involving the second girl.

The 32-year-old was acquitted of two charges of rape and one of indecency with a child.

He denied all the charges at Maidstone Crown Court and continues to maintain his innocence.

A judge told Hewitt, who started the offending at the age of 13 and stopped when he was about 21, it was his right to take such a stance but it made it difficult for the authorities to carry out sex offender treatment.

It also meant there was "no hint of remorse", Judge Philip Statman said when Hewitt appeared for sentence.

The "grave sexual offences" involved Hewitt grooming one of the girls in the Dartford area and going on to repeatedly rape her.

Judge Statman said the two victims spoke in an "extremely brave manner" when giving evidence. Both were accused of lying.

The first victim told how she felt dirty and used and described Hewitt having sex with her as being like performing a household chore.

The judge said the victims faced an awful situation at the end of the trial.

"They will carry that which you have done to them for the rest of their lives," he said.

Hewitt was now a family man, having married in 2005, and had two children, aged one and three.

The judge said he considered the appropriate starting point for sentence was 15 years, but there had to be a reduction because of Hewitt's age at the time.
A sexual offences prevention order was imposed for 10 years.

Hewitt, of Canada Road, Slade Green, Erith, will be banned from working with children and his name will appear on the sex offenders' register for life.