ARTHUR BAWDEN, DEVON FARMER, JAILED FOR SECOND TIME OVER HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE

In April 2019, Arthur Bawden, a 74-year-old pensioner from Joey’s Field, Bishops Nympton, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the historic sexual abuse of a young girl and boy during visits to a farm in Devon. Bawden used every opportunity to isolate the girl with him in locations such as the farmhouse, barns, and milking parlour, continuing his abuse over several years in the 1970s. The young girl was so naive about what was happening that she didn’t realize it was wrong and was too frightened and ashamed to tell anyone when she grew older and learned about sex. He claimed he had only touched her once when she was 16, during a farm visit when she was sleeping in the kitchen over her school holidays. Additionally, Bawden abused a young boy visiting his farm around the same time, taking him away from the farmhouse before sexually assaulting him. Originally, Bawden was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Exeter Crown Court in 2017 for abusing the girl; however, the Court of Appeal overturned the jury’s verdict, leading to a retrial. He was released last year but was found guilty of many allegations again at a retrial last month. Bawden was acquitted of two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault from the earlier trial, and the new jury also found him not guilty of eight counts of indecency. During the proceedings, Bawden was convicted of 11 counts of indecent assault or indecency against the girl and one count of indecent assault against the boy. He admitted to indecently assaulting the girl on one occasion, which he claimed happened after she turned 16. Judge David Evans sentenced him to 10 years and four months and ordered he be registered as a sex offender for life. The judge stated, “The indecent assaults started with touching the girl when she was seven or eight and continued until she was 13 to 15. By that time, you had to be more forcible as she grew older and more resistant. You took the boy to a location away from your home where you said you had work to do. There has been a lasting impact on both victims throughout their childhood, into adulthood, and up to the present day. The profound effects of abuse on personal and psychological well-being were evident from the evidence at the trial and from the victims’ personal statements. You attempted to discredit the female victim’s character, which suggests a lack of genuine remorse and an inability to understand the true harm caused. You also made references during your testimony implying the girl was ‘making a meal of it’ regarding the incident you admitted. Throughout both trials, the girl, now an adult, recounted how Bawden began abusing her during farm visits, bribing her with money and sweets, and assaulting her in various farm buildings. The boy told the jury he loved visiting the farm but was sexually assaulted when Bawden took him aside to work with him away from the main buildings. Bawden claimed he was too busy managing the 90-acre farm with his father, Reg, to have time for abuse and stated he had never been alone with the girl when she was young.