DAVID WILLIAMS AND PAULINE WILLIAMS SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN HONITON AND GLOUCESTER

A man and woman, known for their long-standing connections to the notorious West family, have been convicted and condemned for perpetrating a series of horrific sexual abuses against children over a span of 15 years. David Williams, aged 57, has received a life sentence, while his wife, Pauline Williams, aged 53, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars, with an additional four-year extension on her license. Both are residents of Bradninch, Devon, and their crimes have shocked the local community and beyond.

The couple's troubling history dates back to the 1980s when they first became acquaintances of the infamously known serial killers Fred and Rose West in Gloucester. Court records reveal that David Williams often boasted about his connections to the Wests, who were known to frequent the pub he operated in Gloucester, the Prince Albert. It was during this period, when they were managing the pub, that their pattern of abusing children began. One of their victims was notably only seven years old. Their sinister activities did not cease there but continued into the 1990s, after they moved to Exeter, where they took over the operation of the Victoria Inn.

Over the years, the couple's abuse extended to a disturbing number of teenagers and young children. They faced a total of 46 charges encompassing sexual and physical abuse committed between 1989 and 2004. The trial concluded in October, where the jury found David Williams guilty of ten rapes, thirteen counts of indecent assault, five charges of gross indecency, two counts of cruelty, and one of sexual activity with a minor. Pauline Williams was convicted of two rapes and five indecent assaults. However, they were acquitted of eight other allegations involving two separate complainants.

The court heard how both David and Pauline Williams inflicted their heinous acts without remorse throughout the years of abuse. Detective Constable Debbie Dow from Devon and Cornwall Police publicly commented on the case, stating, “David and Pauline Williams carried out a string of sickening and callous sexual attacks on children and teenagers without remorse over a 15-year period.

These victims—both male and female—had their childhoods stolen long before they could fully understand the gravity of what had happened. Their lives have been marked by difficulties and ongoing struggles with their past trauma, which continues to impact their ability to live normal, healthy lives. The court's decision aims to bring justice to those affected by their horrific crimes, although the scars of their abuse will linger long after the sentencing.