ALLAN SHERLOCK'S HORRIFIC GROOMING IN TOTNES AND DARTMOUTH: CHILD ABUSER JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Totnes and Dartmouth, Allan Sherlock, aged 30, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual activity with a minor. The crimes involved a prolonged grooming process and abuse of a 14-year-old girl, which spanned over two years and included manipulation, coercion, and violence.

Sherlock, who resided on Parkers Close in Totnes and previously lived on Jubilee Close in Dartmouth, first met the young girl on the Queen Elizabeth Drive estate in Paignton. He used a manipulative approach, employing what was described in court as a 'carrot and stick' strategy to lure her into a sexual relationship. This involved giving her cannabis and various gifts, which served to entrap her and foster a sense of dependency.

During the trial, it was revealed that Sherlock's relationship with the girl began when she was just 13 or 14 years old. The girl testified that Sherlock befriended her by providing her with cannabis, and their relationship was initially consensual. However, as time went on, the situation deteriorated. Sherlock moved to Totnes shortly before her 16th birthday, and his behavior became increasingly possessive and controlling, leading to a toxic and abusive dynamic.

The court heard that Sherlock repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with the girl when she was 14 and 15 years old. His actions included a pattern of grooming, which involved giving her gifts and drugs to manipulate her compliance. When she attempted to resist his advances, Sherlock responded with violence and threats. One such threatening message included a photo of a baseball bat with the caption, 'see if she still loves you with half a face,' sent to her when she started a relationship with a boy her own age.

Furthermore, Sherlock's abusive conduct extended beyond the initial grooming phase. After their relationship ended, the girl received threatening text messages, indicating the extent of his possessiveness and control. The court also noted that Sherlock's approach was characterized by a mixture of coercion, ill-treatment, and abuse of a vulnerable individual.

During the four-day trial held earlier this month, the girl described how Sherlock's initial friendliness turned into a controlling and possessive relationship. She recounted that after she left him, her new boyfriend also received threatening messages, highlighting the ongoing impact of Sherlock's actions.

Judge Ignatius Hughes, QC, presided over the case and sentenced Sherlock to four years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the vulnerability of the victim, acknowledging that she had her own problems before meeting Sherlock and was skipping school. The judge stated, 'She was a vulnerable child, although it is right to say she had her own problems before you met her and was skipping school.'

He further condemned Sherlock's grooming tactics, describing them as a form of mental control that exploited a young and vulnerable girl. The judge said, 'You groomed her and to a degree coerced her to submit to a sexual relationship by giving her cannabis and gifts. There was a mixture of that and ill-treatment and abuse of one sort or another.' The court's decision underscores the seriousness of the crimes committed and the importance of protecting minors from such predatory behavior.