DEREK FINCH FROM ALFINGTON JAILED FOR MOLESTATION IN HONITON SUPERMARKET

In March 2020, a disturbing case of child sexual misconduct unfolded in Honiton, involving Derek Finch, an 81-year-old resident of Church Lane, Alfington, near Ottery St Mary. Finch was convicted of multiple serious offenses related to the sexual exploitation of young children, which culminated in his sentencing at Exeter Crown Court on Monday, March 9.

Finch pleaded guilty to several charges, including the sexual assault of a girl under the age of 13, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and engaging in sexual activities in the presence of a minor. The court was informed that Finch’s actions were of a predatory nature, prompting the judge, Mr. Justice David Evans, to describe his behavior as “the predatory behaviour of a paedophile,” emphasizing the gravity of the case.

The court proceedings revealed harrowing details of Finch’s misconduct. It was established that he had exposed himself to a three-year-old girl, deliberately turning her head so she could witness his inappropriate actions. CCTV footage from Iceland, a supermarket located in Lace Walk, Honiton, captured Finch loitering within the store. The footage showed him touching himself over his clothes while following a different toddler around the store, an act that was both disturbing and clearly predatory.

Further evidence indicated that Finch was seen following the same child after he left the shop, and he was subsequently arrested nearby. The court also heard that Finch had targeted another young girl, a toddler accompanied by her mother, whom he followed around the store. During this encounter, Finch was observed groping his groin over his clothing while watching the child. The situation escalated when Finch approached a three-year-old girl who had wandered away from her mother to look at the ice cream cabinet. He engaged the child in conversation while touching himself and moved his groin close to her, exposing himself in a manner designed to be seen.

Finch later admitted to police that he became aroused knowing he had been seen touching himself in public, a confession that underscored the severity of his actions. The court was told that Finch’s conduct was in clear breach of his existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which explicitly prohibits any unsupervised contact with children. This breach was a significant aggravating factor in his sentencing.

It was also revealed that Finch had a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a child in a toy shop in Honiton, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior. As a result of his latest offenses, Finch was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to a new SHPO, further restricting his contact with minors.

Prosecutor Miss Kelly Scrivener detailed that the offenses took place at the Honiton Iceland store on December 28, 2019. Police investigations managed to trace the mother of one of the children involved, but the case highlighted the disturbing nature of Finch’s predatory actions and the ongoing threat he posed to children in the community.