WHEN Poppi Bell lost her virginity to her boyfriend it wasn’t the special moment she hoped for.
Instead, Brandon Hewlett, now 21, pressured the then 17-year-old, into having sex for the first time in the college toilets before bragging about it to his mates.
Poppi Bell’s abusive ex used her as a sex slaveCredit: HotSpot Media
Brandon Hewlett was jailed for seven years and six months for three counts of rape and threatening to disclose a sexual photograph at York Crown CourtCredit: HotSpot Media
During their year-long relationship, Hewlett used Poppi, now 22, as a ‘sex slave’, raping her multiple times.
He even laughed after one attack, claiming he had a ‘rape fetish’.
Earlier this year, Hewlett was jailed for over seven years for three counts of rape and threatening to disclose a private sexual photo.
Now Poppi, from York, is bravely waiving her anonymity to encourage other survivors of abuse to speak out against abusive partners.
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Poppi, who works in retail, says: “Brandon was my first boyfriend, so I didn’t know what relationships were supposed to be like.
“So when his abuse started, I thought it was normal.
“Now I know Brandon’s a monster and I want other women to stay away from him.”
The pair met at college in February 2019 when they were both 17, where, according to Poppi he was known as a ‘bad boy.’
When the pair first started dating, he convinced Poppi that she couldn’t get anyone as good as him.
Poppi remembers: “During the first weeks of our relationship, he pressured me into sending him nude photos.
“He said if I didn’t, he could get another girl to, so not wanting to lose him I did as he asked.”
But the next day, Hewlett showed the photos to his friends in front of Poppi.
As the weeks went on, he began putting Poppi down and called her a ‘whore’ when she wore a crop top one day.
Two months later, in April that year, Hewlett began pressuring Poppi for sex.
She says: “The first time we had sex was in the toilets at college.
“I wasn’t ready, but he told me he’d get it elsewhere if I didn’t.
“Afterwards, he bragged to everyone. It was humiliating.
“From then on, he demanded sex all the time and said my body was his.”
In summer 2019, Hewlett raped Poppi for the first time in his bedroom.
Poppi had just got out of the bath when he began filming her naked on his phone.
She explains: “I was angry and told him to stop as I re-dressed.
“Eventually he did and said he’d make it up to me.
“Instead, he threw me on the bed and stripped off my clothes.
“I told him ‘no’ and started crying as he forced himself inside me.”
Brandon raped her while her parents were in her houseCredit: HotSpot Media
Afterwards, Hewlett announced, ‘I know you like it rough’.
Months later in December, Hewlett wanted to experiment with handcuffs while Poppi’s parents were in the house downstairs.
Reluctantly, Poppi agreed.
She says: “We started having sex and he was holding my arms up, the cuffs were too tight so I asked him to stop.
“Instead, he flipped me onto my stomach and raped me.
“I was screaming in pain and he pushed my face into the pillow so no one could hear.”
Afterwards, Hewlett laughed and said ‘I must have a rape fetish’.
Too scared to tell her parents, Poppi kept his abuse a secret.
In February 2020, after downing half a bottle of vodka, Poppi decided to confront Hewlett at his house.
But after arriving she passed out on his sofa, when she eventually came around, Hewlett was on top of her raping her again.
Poppi recalls: “My clothes and underwear were ripped off.
“I was terrified and called my mum to pick me up.”
The next month, Poppi discovered she was pregnant.
And when her dad suggested Hewlett should be in the baby’s life as the father, she broke down to her parents, confessing all about the abuse.
She says: “They were horrified and called the police.
“A few days later, I gave my statement, but Brandon denied the charges.”
While Poppi awaited the trial, she went into early labour at 23 weeks, and sadly, her baby girl was still born.
She was devastated and diagnosed with depression.
Two years later, Poppi bravely appeared via video link to give her evidence in court against Hewlett.
She says: “Brandon made me out to be a bitter ex that had made it all up.
“But thankfully, the jury saw through his lies.”
In January this year, Hewlett was jailed for seven years and six months for three counts of rape and threatening to disclose a sexual photograph at York Crown Court.
Poppi says: “I’m glad he’s behind bars but it doesn’t make up for the hell he put me through.
“It took me years to trust men again.
“Now I want other young girls to know that Brandon’s behaviour isn’t normal.
“Please, if you’re being abused, tell someone and get help.”
Poppi is begging other women to seek helpCredit: HotSpot Media
