KELVIN SNOW'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BAMPTON AND TEIGNMOUTH REVEALED

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Bampton and the surrounding areas, Kelvin Snow, a 65-year-old farm worker, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of multiple counts of child sexual abuse. The heinous acts, which took place nearly two decades ago, involved two young girls who were just between the ages of ten and twelve at the time of the assaults.

Snow’s crimes came to light after one of the victims, now an adult, decided to break her silence three years ago. The older girl, who endured repeated abuse at Snow’s hands, had suffered from depression and engaged in self-harm during her teenage years. The catalyst for her decision to report the abuse was the birth of her own baby daughter, which made her realize the importance of exposing her past trauma. Her disclosures prompted police to contact the second victim, who also agreed to testify about the abuse she had suffered.

The court heard that many of the assaults occurred in a car park near Teignmouth Golf Club, where Snow was taking the younger girl for rides. During these encounters, Snow engaged in inappropriate and sexual behavior, including kissing the girls on the mouth in an adult manner. The younger girl was subjected to more invasive acts, with Snow placing his hands under her clothing and coercing her to touch him sexually. The older girl recounted that Snow’s abuse was not limited to a single incident but was a recurring pattern during the late 1990s and around 2000, often involving lifts to Teignmouth and moments in a layby overlooking the coast, where Snow would pull over.

One particularly disturbing detail was Snow’s comment to the older girl, expressing a desire to be the first to have sex with her, although the assaults never progressed to that point. The older victim described how these experiences left her feeling worthless, wrecked her childhood and adolescence, and led her to abuse alcohol and cannabis for a period. She also revealed that her mental health has been severely impacted, with ongoing panic attacks and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Her victim impact statement, read aloud at Exeter Crown Court, detailed the profound and lasting effects of Snow’s actions, emphasizing her efforts to cope for the sake of her children and family.

In a recorded police interview, the younger victim summarized her feelings by stating, “what he did ruined everything afterwards,” highlighting the deep and lasting damage caused by Snow’s abuse. During the trial, she recounted how Snow had assaulted her during a car journey near the chicken farm where he worked, around the year 2000. She was approximately ten years old at the time. The court also heard that Snow had confronted the older girl shortly before her police report, after which she punched him in the face when he told her she should just accept what happened.

Snow denied three counts of indecent assault, but the jury at Exeter Crown Court found him guilty last month. Judge David Evans sentenced him to seven years in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, and imposed a sexual harm prevention order banning him from unsupervised contact with children. The judge expressed his condemnation of Snow’s actions, stating that while Snow continued with his life, the victims suffered enduring psychological harm. He commended the bravery of the victims for their resilience during the investigation.

In his remarks, Judge Evans emphasized the significant and ongoing adverse effects experienced by the victims, noting that Snow’s conduct had a lasting impact on their mental health and well-being. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child abuse and the importance of justice for victims in communities like Bampton and Teignmouth.