PHILLIP WALTON'S SHOCKING SEX OFFENCES IN DARTMOUTH AND KINGSBRIDGE REVEALED

In February 2013, the community of Dartmouth and surrounding areas was rocked by the conviction of Phillip Walton, a man accused of heinous sexual offences against young girls. Walton, a resident of Dartmouth, faced a jury at Plymouth Crown Court where he was found guilty of a series of serious crimes, including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, and sexual activity with minors.

Throughout the trial, Walton remained silent in the dock as the jury, composed of six men and five women, deliberated and ultimately returned unanimous verdicts of guilt on a total of 12 charges. The court was told that Walton’s crimes spanned several years and involved multiple victims, all of whom were young girls aged between six and 15 at the time of the offences.

Judge Mr. Recorder Jonathan Fuller QC addressed Walton directly, confirming his guilt on charges of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and sexual assault. The prosecution, led by barrister David Sepiecha QC, emphasized the gravity of the case, highlighting that the victims’ ages ranged from six to 15 and that there were multiple offences committed against different girls. He pointed out that the offences occurred over a period of time and involved more than one victim, making the case particularly disturbing.

Walton’s defence lawyer, George Thelfall QC, requested that the court consider the fact that five years had passed since the last offence and that Walton had no prior criminal record. He argued that Walton would find it more difficult to serve a prison sentence than a younger offender, emphasizing his lack of previous convictions.

During the proceedings, the court reviewed evidence of a series of sexual assaults on four young girls from two families in the Dartmouth and Kingsbridge areas. Walton, who was 56 years old at the time, maintained his innocence during police interviews. He claimed, in one interview, “I don’t hurt kids,” and insisted he had “no sexual interest in children.”

The court was informed that police first became aware of the allegations in May 2010, after a girl, referred to as girl A, confided in a friend about being sexually assaulted. Later, she told her boyfriend and another family member, which prompted her to go to the police with her accusations. The judge explained that girl A’s reluctance to disclose the incidents earlier was discussed during cross-examination, with her stating she didn’t understand why she didn’t tell her mother at the time, and denying that her memories were dreams.

Another victim, girl B, also confided in friends and her boyfriend about her abuse. She claimed Walton had put his hand down her pants and made her touch his private parts during an earlier police interview in April 2010. In a subsequent interview in August 2011, she further alleged that Walton had attempted to rape her. Her reasons for not reporting earlier included trying to “black out” the memories and not wanting to go into details, as she explained during cross-examination.

Evidence concerning a third girl, girl C, was also presented. A friend of hers testified that in 2009, girl C claimed Walton had touched her inappropriately. During police interviews, girl C accused Walton of lying beside her and “fiddling” with her while she pretended to be asleep. She described feeling confused and unsure how to react, rejecting suggestions that Walton was merely checking her temperature. She also recounted a conversation with a friend about another victim, and in a later police interview, admitted to having nightmares about Walton’s actions and expressed her dislike for him.

Regarding girl D, the judge noted that she did not mention any abuse during an unrelated police interview in 2009. However, in a March 2012 interview, she described Walton making her lie on a sofa and hold his private parts, feeling “sick” and “disgusted” by his actions. She also stated she was unaware of other girls’ allegations against Walton.

Walton’s defence argued that he consistently denied the allegations during police interviews in 2010, 2011, and 2012, maintaining that the offences did not occur. The judge summarized Walton’s case, emphasizing that he claimed innocence and that there was no forensic or medical evidence due to the passage of time.

Prosecutor David Sapiecha delivered a closing speech, asserting that the four victims were honest and trying to recount the distressing events accurately. He challenged the defence’s suggestion that the girls might have fabricated their stories or that they had ulterior motives, such as seeking compensation. Sapiecha highlighted that such offences often happen in private, and offenders can present a different persona publicly. He described Walton as manipulative and capable of lying, pointing out that Walton’s tears during police interviews were likely for himself, not remorse.

In response, defence barrister Mr. Threlfall urged the jury to consider the lack of physical evidence and the reliability of memories after many years. He questioned the consistency of the girls’ testimonies and suggested that false memories or motives such as sympathy or financial gain could have influenced their claims. He pointed out that some of the girls harbored personal animosity towards Walton, which could have affected their testimonies.

Walton, who holds both UK and Australian nationality, explained that he moved to Britain in 1984 after meeting an English girl in Australia, whom he married. They settled in Dartmouth in 1989, where Walton opened two shops selling memorabilia and T-shirts. Later, he transitioned into catering, running barbecue shows and managing operations at Dartmouth and Torquay Yacht Clubs, as well as opening a restaurant in Dartmouth and working in pubs in Kingsbridge.

Following the verdict, Walton was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his crimes, marking a significant and disturbing chapter for the Dartmouth community and the victims involved.