NICHOLAS BURROWS FROM TORQUAY AND DEVON FACES JAIL FOR DECADES OF ABUSE AT THE DEVIL'S PIT AND BEYOND
In a disturbing case that spans over three decades, Nicholas Burrows, a factory worker from Devon, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offences involving three young girls.The allegations detail a pattern of predatory behavior that began in the 1990s and continued into the 2010s, highlighting a long history of abuse that has now culminated in a court's judgment of a substantial prison sentence.
Burrows's first known act of abuse occurred in the 1990s when he engaged in sexual activity with a girl who was only around eight or nine years old.
This incident took place at a secluded woodland area in Newton Abbot, famously known as The Devil’s Pit.
The location, often associated with local lore, became the site of this early abuse, which was documented in police records from that time.
Despite the passage of years, the case was revisited during the recent trial, revealing the extent of Burrows’s predatory behavior.
Moving into the 2000s, Burrows’s misconduct continued as he lured a teenage girl, aged approximately 14 or 15, to his bedsit located on Powderham Road in Newton Abbot.
He invited her and her friends to underage drinking sessions, during which he engaged in sexual acts with her.
These gatherings, which involved alcohol and underage participants, were part of a pattern of grooming and exploitation.
Evidence presented at Exeter Crown Court detailed how Burrows used his residence as a venue for these illicit activities, further demonstrating his ongoing predatory conduct.
The final known incident occurred in the 2010s when Burrows visited a girl’s home in Newton Abbot.
During this visit, he committed a rape against an approximately 11-year-old girl.
This assault marked the culmination of his long history of abuse, and it was this act that ultimately led to his conviction.
The girl later disclosed the incident to social workers, prompting a renewed investigation into Burrows’s actions.
Throughout the trial, Burrows, aged 58 and now residing on Coxton Road in Torquay, maintained his innocence, claiming that all allegations against him were “slanderous lies.” However, after four days of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges.
These included two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with the first victim, five counts of indecency or sexual activity with a child involving the second victim, and a single count of rape of a girl under 13 concerning the third victim.
He was acquitted of three indecency charges against the second girl and a further rape charge involving the third.
Judge Mr.
Donald Tait, presiding over the case, ordered Burrows to be released on bail while the probation service conducts an assessment to determine whether he should be classified as a dangerous offender.
The judge acknowledged Burrows’s previously good character, stating, “Before this trial he was of good character and I trust him to return to court on his day of sentence.” Nonetheless, he emphasized the gravity of the convictions, warning Burrows, “You have been convicted of very serious offences and are facing a substantial prison sentence.” Defense lawyer Mr.
Nigel Wraith acknowledged the severity of the case, requesting that Burrows be given time to “put his life in order” before sentencing.
The court heard testimony from all three victims, two of whom are now adults, describing how they were abused during their childhood.
The first victim’s case was initially reported to police in 1994, with a video-recorded interview still on file, although much of the case documentation had been lost over time.
It was revealed that Burrows had previously been interviewed but not prosecuted for the offences, which included taking the girl to Baker’s Park and through Bradley Woods to The Devil’s Pit.
The second victim, who was still in school at the time, recounted how Burrows befriended her near school gates and later took her back to his bedsit.
Evidence from a fellow pupil confirmed that Burrows also hosted parties at his residence and another house in Torbay, where underage girls drank alcohol.
The third girl described how Burrows raped her in her bedroom during a visit to her home, an incident she later disclosed to social workers, leading to the renewed investigation that uncovered his pattern of abuse.
Prosecutor Dr.
Rowan Jenkins highlighted the disturbing pattern of Burrows moving from one victim to another, with no evidence suggesting that the victims knew each other or colluded.
The case underscores the long-standing nature of Burrows’s predatory behavior and the devastating impact on those he targeted, with justice now served after decades of silence and suffering.
