EXETER MAN KEVIN BRIGGS/KEVIN COLLINS JAILED FOR SEX WITH 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SIDMOUTH AND EXETER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Exeter and Sidmouth, Kevin Briggs, also known as Kevin Collins, has been sentenced to prison following his involvement in a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl. The incident unfolded in a village near Exeter, where Briggs, a 33-year-old originally from Sidmouth and now residing on Broadfields Road in Exeter, took advantage of a young girl under the influence of alcohol.

According to court reports, Briggs was out with the girl, who was a school student, during a late-night walk in the company of a dog. The girl was reportedly intoxicated, having consumed alcohol earlier that evening, which impaired her judgment and sense of control. The situation took a sinister turn when Briggs, after the walk, entered an unlocked back door of a neighbor’s house in the village near Exeter. Once inside, he led the girl upstairs to a bedroom where they engaged in sexual activity.

The neighbor, who returned home unexpectedly, was met with a shocking scene: she found Briggs and the girl partially undressed on her bed. Disturbed by the sight and recognizing the girl’s young age, the neighbor promptly ordered them out of her house and immediately contacted the police to report the incident.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Mr. Sean Brunton detailed the events, emphasizing that the girl was visiting a household member in Feniton, where Briggs was also staying at the time. It was noted that everyone present had been drinking alcohol, and Briggs had taken the girl for a walk around the village with the dog. The prosecutor highlighted that the girl was so intoxicated that she felt she was not in control of her actions and did not consent to the sexual activity.

Briggs, who faced serious charges, admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a minor. However, he maintained that the encounter was consensual, claiming that the girl had initiated the contact by kissing him during their walk. Despite this, Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court, did not accept Briggs’ account and described the case as aggravated due to the significant age disparity and Briggs’ responsibility for the girl that night.

Judge Mercer sentenced Briggs to three years and four months in prison, condemning his actions and underscoring the gravity of exploiting a vulnerable minor. The case also included a notable legal development, as Briggs was previously found not guilty of the more serious charge of rape in a separate trial last month, with the jury ruling that the sexual activity was consensual. Nonetheless, the court’s current ruling reflects the serious nature of the offense and the breach of trust involved in this case.