In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that then 25-year-old Jay Hubbard was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for the rape of a teenage girl and the systematic grooming of multiple minors. Appearing at Exeter Crown Court, Devon, the defendant—of Chestnut Grove, Dartmouth, Devon—pleaded guilty to rape, three counts of sexual activity with a child, and one count of sexual communication. It was reported that Hubbard used several false internet identities, including the aliases Ben Jones and Jack Goodman, to target three underage girls across social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram.
The investigation established that Hubbard was already a registered sex offender following an assault on a 14-year-old girl in 2011 and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) at the time of his new offences. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that the rape occurred in a village near Dartmouth, Devon, while the 16-year-old victim was dog-sitting. The prosecution reported that Hubbard forced the victim into a violent sexual act while she struggled to breathe and attempted to push him away, causing her to transform from a sociable teenager to someone frightened to leave her home.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Hubbard’s predatory behaviour only fully came to light after officers discovered a laptop and mobile phone hidden under his mattress during a routine home check. Exeter Crown Court, Devon, heard that the defendant had a troubling and disturbing fascination with girls under the age of consent. The investigation established that Hubbard had breached his SHPO and registration requirements six times by spending nights with a minor, creating false aliases, and initiating sexual communications with a 15-year-old who ultimately labelled him a paedophile and told him to go away.
Judge Timothy Rose described Hubbard’s actions as revealng a persistent predatory fixation. For his actions in Dartmouth, Devon, Hubbard was jailed for six and a half years and handed a new, more stringent SHPO that explicitly bans him from creating false online identities. The judge noted that while the defence claimed the rape occurred within the context of an otherwise consensual relationship, the reality was a serious violation that had a devastating effect on the young victim’s mental health and safety.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Jay Hubbard as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 6 years and 6 months (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: New order active, banning all false online identities and contact with minors.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court, Devon, following a Devon and Cornwall Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Rape; Sexual activity with a child; Sexual communication; 6 counts of breaching court orders.
- Origin: Chestnut Grove, Dartmouth, Devon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Hubbard is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) as a Category 1 high-risk predator within the Devon area. Due to the nature of his conduct in Dartmouth, which involved the deliberate concealment of digital devices and the use of multiple aliases to bypass police monitoring, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of breaching SHPOs proves he is a calculated offender who requires the most intensive digital forensic monitoring by the Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender for life, Hubbard’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behaviour in Devon demonstrates an entrenched pattern of targeting underage girls through deception. Any failure to declare a new social media handle, any attempt to use an alias, or any contact with a minor will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of the public from a confirmed and persistent child rapist.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.