OFFENDER WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE
A paedophile with previous convictions for sexually abusing children has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars for doing it again.Paul Bebbington pleaded guilty to 14 counts of indecent assault, sexual activity with a child and sexual assault on boys and girls under the age of 16 and under the age of 13 on the first day of his trial which had been due to take place earlier this week.
The charges relate to incidents which took place in North Devon in the late nineties and in the wider St Austell area of Cornwall in 2019 and 2020.
At a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court today (Friday, July 11), it was heard how the historic and more recent sexual abuse went on over several decades and involved several children.
In powerful victim impact statements read out in court, his victims said Bebbington had wrecked their lives as children, but all also insisted that they would not let him wreck their adult lives further.
One of the victims said the damage has already been done and they have to live with it for the rest of their lives.
Another said their mental health has been impacted greatly and they continue to suffer from regular mood swings, anxiety and depression.
They said: "He ruined my childhood.
I will not allow him to ruin my adulthood.
I'm happy that he will be behind bars where he belongs and children are safe from one more sexual offender." Another of Bebbington's victims also said their mental health has been affected by the sexual abuse they suffered and they have now been diagnosed with complex post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
They said they find it difficult to switch off and go to sleep.
The court was told that the 66-year-old from Snowlands, Par, was sentenced to two years in prison back in 1998 in connection with similar incidents of sexual assaults on a girl under the age of 16.
In mitigation, Jason Beal said Bebbington may have entered a guilty plea on the day of his trial but at least he had done so and not put his victims through the ordeal of having to give evidence.
He said: "He does accept his guilt.
His pleas are a public recognition that he has done wrong to these children." Mr Beal also said Bebbington is in poor health with stage three chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and will find it more difficult in prison than if he had been in good health.
His Honour Judge James Adkin said Bebbington had caused immense harm to his victims over decades, the effect of which will "cast a long shadow over the rest of their lives".
He said Bebbington's defence had been limited and any remorse shown had been tempered by a very late guilty plea.
He sentenced him to 15 years and 10 months in prison.
Bebbington will serve two thirds before being eligible for parole.
A sexual harm prevention order for 30 years was imposed on him and he will be on the sex offenders register for 30 years too.
