Man jailed for eight years after raping teenager

Sam Jones was convicted of three counts of rape against his victim

A man has been jailed for eight years after he raped a teenager in a hotel room.

Sam Jones, 32, was jailed on Friday at Bristol Crown Court after he was found guilty following a trial in September.

Jones, who lived at Preston Road in Yeovil at the time of the offences, was sentenced concurrently for three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after committing the offences in 2022.

His victim said she had been "stripped" of being able to have relationships.

She said: "I now have difficulty maintaining all relationships. I can't trust anyone, and I can't get that feeling out of me.

"My life has been on hold for more than three years, and I now want it back.

"I haven't moved forward for myself, but only to help protect other women, especially those who have had contact with Sam.

"Trying to talk about my trauma is hard and this will forever have an impact on me and cause me issues, but I'm determined to move on with my life."

Jones, who now lives at Church Hill in Piddlehinton, Dorset, was also handed a restraining order not to contact the victim indefinitely.

The court heard how he took his victim, who was over 16 at the time, for a night away in a hotel where he sexually assaulted her and raped her three times.

'Heard and believed'

Det Con Ella Griffiths, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the victim had shown "incredible courage and strength" in reporting what had happened to her.

She said: "Without her bravery in speaking out and supporting this thorough investigation, convictions like this would not be possible and justice has resulted in a custodial sentence.

"Jones' actions have had profound impact on the victim, and violence towards women and girls is not tolerated.

"Any victim of a sexual offence will be heard, believed, and supported."