CHRISTOPHER LUNN FROM TOPSHAM SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF CHILD SEX ABUSE IN EXMOUTH AND BEYOND

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Topsham and the surrounding areas, a 67-year-old man named Christopher Lunn has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of more than four decades. The crimes, which involved multiple young girls, came to light after a disturbing discovery made by the parents of an 11-year-old girl from Exmouth, Devon.

According to court reports, the parents found a handwritten note in their daughter’s room that detailed a disturbing list of sexual acts along with the monetary rewards Lunn had allegedly offered her as bribes. The note read: ‘Touch £5, Feel £4, Video £10,’ and included other sexual acts for which he had promised payments of £10 or £35. This discovery was the key evidence that led to Lunn’s arrest and subsequent conviction.

Further investigations revealed that Lunn had a long history of abusing young girls, dating back to the early 1970s and the mid-1980s. He had established relationships with the families of his victims, often grooming them with treats such as sweets, chocolates, and crisps to gain their trust. These acts of grooming and abuse had devastating psychological effects on the victims, some of whom later encountered Lunn by chance and publicly denounced him as ‘a dirty little pervert.’

Retired van driver Lunn, who resides in Topsham near Exeter, admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a child and faced seven charges related to indecency and indecent assault. The court heard that his actions had caused lasting trauma, with one victim describing how her experience with Lunn affected her adult life, including difficulties in forming relationships and, in one case, developing agoraphobia.

Judge John Neligan sentenced Lunn to seven years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. During the sentencing, the judge remarked, “Some of these offences go back 40 years, and during those in the 1980s, you bought the girl’s affection with chocolate. You took advantage of these young girls, some of whom are now mature women with families of their own. They have suffered psychologically from what you did to them as children.”

The case was brought to light after a family from Exmouth, who had befriended Lunn, contacted the police. The family’s suspicions were confirmed when they discovered the note and learned that the girl had been touched through her clothing, with the note suggesting that the abuse extended further. The police traced the girl’s account back to Lunn, and further investigations uncovered additional victims, including a woman who had been abused in a pub in the 1980s and another who was given chocolate after being touched by him.

Prosecutor Mr. Sean Brunton explained that Lunn’s arrest followed the family’s call to authorities. During police interviews, Lunn denied the allegations, offering a narrative filled with denial, self-justification, and minimization of his actions. The victims’ statements detailed the long-term psychological harm inflicted upon them, with some describing how the abuse hindered their adult relationships and caused mental health issues.

Defense lawyer Mr. David Evans acknowledged Lunn’s guilty plea, stating that it spared the victims the trauma of testifying in court. He also noted that Lunn had taken responsibility for his actions and would be subject to the sex offender register, ensuring ongoing monitoring by authorities. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed by Christopher Lunn, whose actions have left a lasting scar on his victims and the community of Topsham and Exmouth alike.