DAVID DAMS FROM CORNWALL AND HOLSWORTHY JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the local communities across Cornwall and the surrounding areas, David Dams, a 47-year-old man with connections to Cornwall, Holsworthy, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, South Hams, and Plymouth, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after confessing to a series of heinous crimes involving underage girls.

According to court records, Dams admitted to luring a young girl into a state of intoxication by giving her alcohol, specifically six cans of lager, with the intent of sexually assaulting her. The court heard that he also showed her pornography beforehand, which served to facilitate the abuse. The victim, who was a schoolgirl at the time, was so heavily intoxicated that she fell asleep, providing Dams the opportunity to commit the rape and sexual molestation. Prosecutors detailed that Dams's actions were particularly egregious because of the girl’s young age and her efforts to resist, which were evident despite her intoxication.

Further allegations revealed that Dams had also given the same girl vodka on another occasion, to the extent that she became sick from a window, and he indecently touched her during these encounters. The court was informed that these offences mainly took place in the South Hams area during 2004 and 2005. The case against Dams was initially dropped after one of the victims made a formal complaint, but he later turned himself into police approximately four and a half years later, confessing to the crimes.

At the time of his arrest, Dams was believed to be living in Plymouth, although police suspected he also resided in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. His known address was listed as St George’s Road, Barnstaple. Following his surrender, Dams was charged with two counts of rape and five counts of sexual activity with a child. During the court proceedings, a victim, now an adult woman, sat at the back of the courtroom with her mother, displaying remarkable bravery. Dams, meanwhile, sat turned away throughout the entire half-hour hearing.

Prosecutor Jason Beal from the Crown Prosecution Service described the disturbing details of the case, emphasizing the severity of the offences due to the young age of the victims and the use of alcohol and pornography to facilitate the abuse. He recounted that Dams had shown remorse and confessed to more offences than those initially alleged by the victims.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Paul Darlow expressed his astonishment at the case, noting that he had never encountered a situation where a defendant had surrendered after seemingly getting away with such crimes. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offences, particularly the exploitation of a young girl through alcohol and sexual abuse, and the use of pornography as aggravating factors.

As a result, Dams was sentenced to ten years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was banned from working with children or vulnerable adults for the rest of his life. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of justice for victims of sexual abuse and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals in communities across Cornwall and beyond.