Toxic Paignton barman jailed for raping woman

A former barman from Paignton has been jailed for eight and a half years for rape. Matthew Hughes, 29, displayed a "toxic brew of behaviour" when he subjected the woman to the terrifying and humiliating assault, a court heard.

After raping the woman he sent her an abusive text message saying "I hope you feel as worthless as I do." He denied the rape but was convicted by a jury after a trial in August. The defendant, of Southfield Road, returned to court to be jailed. The judge described his actions as "monstrous".

Judge David Evans told Hughes he had a set of "horrible attitudes" about how women should behave and a need to dominate them and for them to be a "servant to your ego."

The victim said in a statement the crime, which happened in 2019, and the emotional abuse had left her with lasting trauma. She is scared to go to certain places in her home town and no longer trusts men.

"I feel my whole adulthood has been tarnished," she said. She is thankful to those who listened and believed her and hopes to get some of her former strength back.

Kelly Scrivener, defending, said there is "another side" to Hughes. He has also worked for the DWP and in construction. Since his conviction he had started to accept that what he did was wrong.

"It's a shame this did not come at the start of the court process," said Judge Evans.

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