Locations
East Road, Stithians, Truro, Cornwall, TR3
Description
Scott Lewis Jailed for Nine Years After Sexual Assault Conviction
A woman has told a court her life was left “in tatters” after being targeted for sexual abuse by Scott Lewis.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the abuse had affected “every relationship” in her life and continued to have a profound impact on her mental health.
Lewis, 54, of East Road, Stithians, was convicted by a jury at Truro Crown Court earlier this year of multiple counts of sexual assault.
Sentencing him, Judge Simon Carr said Lewis had shown no remorse for the harm caused.
“You abused her in the most terrible way,” the judge told the defendant.
Judge Carr criticised the initial police response, saying the woman had been “catastrophically let down” after reporting the abuse but no action was taken at the time.
Highlighting the lasting damage, he added: “The effect on her has been truly devastating. Anybody reading her personal impact statement would see it has affected every aspect of her life and will continue to do so. You have shown no remorse for what you have done and the evil you have inflicted.”
In her victim impact statement, the woman said the abuse had “torn her life apart” and led to multiple suicide attempts, the first occurring shortly after it began. She described spiralling into alcohol and cannabis use, self-harm and a “path of self-destruction”.
She has since been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and eating disorders. She continues to suffer flashbacks, nightmares and hallucinations linked to Lewis.
The trauma forced her to abandon her education after a severe panic attack during a teaching session. “The offending took my future potential away,” she said, adding she turned to alcohol and drugs “just to forget for a short time”.
She told the court she has “hundreds of scars” from self-harm and nerve damage. She once hoped to work with young people but no longer believes that is possible and has decided not to have children — decisions she described as direct consequences of the abuse.
Since the trial she has required ongoing mental health support, including home treatment, medication and hospital admission. Despite Lewis’s conviction, she said she continues to feel overwhelmed and at times guilty.
Lewis was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.
Devon and Cornwall Police welcomed the outcome and praised the victim’s bravery.
“We welcome the result and sentence in relation to this case. Most of all we commend the bravery of the victim for reporting these offences to us,” the force said.
It acknowledged past failings but stated it has “fundamentally reformed the way cases are handled” through specialist training and a greater focus on suspect behaviour under the national Operation Soteria programme.