GORDON HOBBS FROM SOUTH BRENT BANNED FROM RETURNING AFTER CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN DEVON

In a recent and highly serious case, Gordon Hobbs, a resident of South Brent, was subjected to a court ruling that effectively bans him from returning to his home village following his conviction for heinous sexual offenses involving a young girl.

Hobbs, aged 46, was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl and taking explicit photographs of the assault. The court, presided over by Judge Francis Gilbert at Plymouth Crown Court, took the extraordinary step of imposing a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that prohibits Hobbs from coming within 20 miles of South Brent, his home parish in Devon. This order was specifically designed to safeguard the victim and prevent any further contact or risk to children in the area.

During the sentencing, Judge Gilbert emphasized the severity of the case, highlighting the profound impact on the victim's family. He stated, "The report makes clear the devastating effect your conduct has had on that child's family. This is a very serious matter indeed, compounded by the fact that you took a picture and retained it. You are, and are likely to remain, a menace to young children." The judge also extended Hobbs's license period by an additional seven years beyond his initial prison term, meaning that even after serving his three-year sentence, Hobbs will remain under supervision for a total of ten years.

Hobbs had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of sexual assault and one count of making indecent images. Furthermore, he admitted to possessing a total of 16,000 indecent images, including those depicting children in explicit acts. The court was informed that police had raided Hobbs's residence in South Brent, uncovering a vast collection of illegal material. The investigation was initiated following intelligence from the FBI, which traced the use of Hobbs's credit card on websites hosting hardcore child pornography, leading to the discovery of the extensive illegal content stored on his devices.

Overall, the case underscores the gravity of Hobbs's crimes and the measures taken by the court to prevent any future offenses, including the prohibition from returning to his community and the extended supervision period after his release from prison.