Man who pleaded guilty to a number of sex offences is jailed
Police say 'you will be believed' and encourage any victims of a sexual offence to come forward - following 41-year-old Jody Hawkins' sentencing yesterday (June 29)
Last updated 30th Jun 2023
A man described by police as a 'sexual predator' has been jailed after pleading guilty to seven offences - including indecent exposure and sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Yesterday (June 29), 41-year-old Jody Hawkins of HMP Bristol was put behind bars for 28 months for five of the offences at Bristol Crown Court.
He was also made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and given a restraining order to prevent any contact with his victims.
It's after he caused a child to watch a video of him performing a sexual act and he exposed himself in a female toilet block.
The 41-year-old came to police attention in another part of the country in May last year when a teenage girl was contacted directly by Hawkins.
During that call, he initiated a sexual conversation and encouraged the victim to perform a sexual act on herself, while he played a pornographic video of himself.
The girl refused, hung up and the matter was reported to the police.
In late-October, Hawkins then committed a number of offences against four other victims, when he was found to be exposing himself to a woman in a female toilet block in Keynsham.
He then showed another woman an inappropriate private photograph of himself a few minutes later and again exposed himself.
Two 16-year-olds reported Hawkins that evening, after he tried to engage in a sexual conversation with them and showed them the same photograph.
Hawkins pleaded guilty to:
- Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
- Sexual activity in the presence of a child
- Causing a child to watch a sexual act
- Two counts of indecent exposure
- Two counts of intentional causing fear/harassment/alarm/distress
The sentencing for two harassment charges will happen next Wednesday (July 5) at Bristol Magistrates' Court.
Officer in the case, Detective Constable Heather McGowan, said: “Jody Hawkins has been shown to be a sexual predator that deliberately targets vulnerable victims and I welcome the prison sentence he has received today.
“The victims in this case have all shown tremendous strength and courage throughout this investigation and court process. Hawkins' will no doubt have a continued negative impact on their lives, but I hope his jail sentence will give them the peace of mind they deserve.
“I would like to thank the members of the community in Keynsham who came forward with information to support this investigation. I would also like to thank the CPS and the trial barrister for their support in bringing this offender to justice.
"We would always encourage any victims of a sexual offence to come forward to the police. You will be believed, you will be offered support that you may need and crimes will be fully investigated."