CHRISTOPHER REDFERN OF TIVERTON SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN DEVON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Tiverton, a local businessman named Christopher Redfern has been convicted and sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 15 years for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl during her holiday visits to Devon.

Redfern, who resides on Angel Hill in Tiverton, was found guilty of grooming the girl over a period spanning three summers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The victim, whose identity remains protected, was only 11 years old when the abuse began. Over time, Redfern's actions escalated from inappropriate touching to more serious sexual assaults, culminating in a rape when she was just 13 years old.

The case revealed that Redfern had manipulated the girl’s trust by paying her money, taking her swimming at a private pool owned by a friend, and even allowing her to drive his car along the long driveway of his property near Tiverton. These acts of grooming created a false sense of security for the young girl, making her vulnerable to further abuse. The victim later described how she froze during the assault, feeling helpless as it happened.

Remarkably, Redfern managed to evade detection for over two decades. It was only after the victim finally disclosed the details of her suffering that authorities were able to arrest him. During the trial, Redfern claimed that the girl had developed a crush on him during her holidays in Devon and insisted that he did not exploit her feelings. He also argued that her allegations were fantasies.

However, the evidence presented in Exeter Crown Court painted a different picture. The jury heard that Redfern had previously been cautioned by police for an indecent assault on a 13-year-old boy, indicating a pattern of inappropriate behavior. The court was told that Redfern had denied all charges, which included rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency, with the offenses dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

Judge Phillip Wassall delivered a stern verdict, emphasizing the devastating impact of Redfern’s actions on the victim’s life. In his sentencing remarks, the judge stated, “Over the course of three summers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, you subjected this girl to sexual abuse when she was aged 11 to 13. You began grooming her, and she provided graphic evidence of what you did. Your grooming was so effective that it progressed from indecent assault to offering her money for sexual favors. At one point, she even wrote a note offering to have full sex for money, which she now understands was a form of prostitution, though she was not at fault.