DAVID DENNIS FROM GUNNISLAKE AND HARROWBARROW SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL

In a deeply disturbing case that has shaken the local communities of Gunnislake and Harrowbarrow, David Dennis, a 60-year-old man, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting to a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl. The crimes, which spanned over eight years, involved multiple counts of indecent and sexual assault, including sexual assault by penetration, all inflicted upon a girl who was under the age of 13 at the time.

Dennis faced a total of 23 charges in court, encompassing nine counts of indecent assault of a child under 13, twelve counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and four counts of sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13. The severity and duration of these offenses have left a lasting scar on the victim and her family, prompting a wave of community concern and outrage.

The mother of the young girl, who has chosen to remain anonymous for legal reasons, shared her emotional turmoil upon discovering the extent of her daughter’s suffering. Her distress was compounded by the revelation that her youngest daughter, now 19, confided in her older sister, aged 22, about the abuse. The sister disclosed that Dennis had touched her and coerced her into sexual acts from the age of five until she was 13. This disclosure came in June 2013, and it marked the beginning of a painful journey towards justice.

“She looked white as a sheet; she said ‘I have got something to tell you,’” the mother recounted. “My head just started to spin. I just started saying ‘Are you sure?’ She said yes. She said ‘I have been standing outside the door waiting. I just wanted to give you a few more minutes of normality.’”

Over the following months, the mother grappled with the decision of whether to involve the authorities. Her daughter, described as shy and lacking confidence, initially wanted to keep the abuse secret, fearing disbelief and social stigma. “She wanted me to keep it quiet. She wasn’t ready for people to find out,” the mother explained. The emotional toll was immense, especially as Dennis continued his life seemingly unaffected, while her daughter suffered from depression and emotional distress.

“She was suffering badly from depression. She couldn’t bear the fact that he was walking around and she was living in darkness,” the mother said. The mother herself struggled with her mental health, even contemplating ending her life due to the overwhelming depression. Ultimately, her daughter decided to report the abuse to the police, a decision made in secrecy without informing anyone else.

Following the police investigation, Dennis was brought before Truro Crown Court last month. During the court proceedings, he pleaded guilty to the numerous charges against him. In a moment that revealed his manipulative nature, Dennis blew a kiss to the victim and her mother in the courtroom gallery as he admitted his guilt. The mother described her emotional response: “I cried. I just looked at him and I said ‘Don’t do that. Just don’t.’ He is very manipulative. He messes with your head.”

The victim is now in the process of trying to rebuild her life, but her mother fears that the trauma inflicted upon her will leave lasting scars. “She is bereft,” the mother said. “She suffers from anxiety, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Since we found out, she has been better, thanks to the support of her family, but she is terribly scarred.”

She also expressed her heartbreak over her daughter’s changed aspirations and fears about her future. “She always wanted to be a midwife. Now she wants to disappear and run off with the Navy,” the mother revealed. The young girl was initially too scared to come forward because Dennis was well respected within the community, leading her to believe that no one would believe her. However, her mother never doubted her account and was resolute in seeking justice.

As part of his sentence, Dennis, who resides on Chawleigh Close in Gunnislake, will be registered as a sex offender for life and is prohibited from working with children indefinitely. The community and the victim’s family hope that this conviction will bring some measure of closure and justice for the young girl who endured such a traumatic ordeal.