COLIN PATCH REPEATEDLY OFFENDS IN ROCKBEARE AND EXETER

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing issues of sexual misconduct, Colin Michael Patch, a resident of Lowbrook, Rockbeare, Exeter, has been involved in multiple criminal activities related to sexual offenses. The 68-year-old man was recently convicted of engaging in illegal sexual activities with the intent of obtaining gratification, knowing or believing that children were involved or would be aware of his actions.

Following his guilty plea, Patch was remanded on bail until January 22, 2018, when he was scheduled for sentencing, which resulted in a 12-month suspended prison sentence. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring.

However, this was not his first encounter with the law concerning inappropriate sexual behavior. Back in December 2012, Patch, then aged 63, was involved in a highly troubling incident at his workplace. An office worker, who became suspicious of Patch’s repeated inappropriate actions, took the step of installing a webcam in the office to gather evidence. The court heard that Patch had been secretly pleasuring himself behind a female colleague on numerous occasions, sometimes lasting as long as 30 minutes during his tea breaks.

According to court testimony, Patch would often approach the woman from behind while she was working at her desk, engaging in these inappropriate acts. The victim’s suspicions grew over time, prompting her to set up surveillance, which captured Patch in the act at least 60 times. The court described how anyone could have entered the office reception area or looked through a window and seen his actions, raising concerns about public exposure and the potential for others to witness his misconduct.

As a consequence of his actions, Patch was issued an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) that prohibited him from making any sexual gestures or actions in public that could cause alarm, harassment, or distress to others. Furthermore, he was subjected to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) after admitting to a charge of harassment without violence. The court also imposed a two-year community order with supervision aimed at addressing his sexual offending behaviors, along with a two-year restraining order that barred him from contacting the victim.

Prosecutor Mark Haddow highlighted that Patch had admitted to being attracted to his victim and acknowledged that he had previously engaged in similar behavior approximately 30 years earlier, targeting a former boss’s wife before being made redundant from that previous employment. These incidents underscore a pattern of troubling behavior that has persisted over decades, prompting the court to take stringent measures to prevent further offenses and protect the community of Rockbeare and Exeter.