ROBERT CLARK FROM WINKLEIGH JAILED FOR ABUSING BOY IN NORTH DEVON

In September 2020, authorities in North Devon took significant action against Robert Clark, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, who was ultimately sentenced to prison for his past crimes. Clark, a former supply teacher, was found guilty of abusing a young boy during the 1980s and 1990s, crimes that have left a lasting impact on his victim.

Clark, who was residing on a smallholding in North Devon, had previously worked as a teacher in London before relocating to Devon. During his time in North Devon, he also took on roles as a handyman and later pursued pottery. His background as a teacher in London and his subsequent move to Devon are significant, as they contextualize his access to children and his pattern of offending.

The abuse against the young boy, who was as young as seven at the time, occurred on multiple occasions. These incidents took place several years before Clark was accused of assaulting two additional boys at a primary school in the area. The offences against the first victim happened when Clark was living in North Devon, and they involved inappropriate touching on different occasions. Clark’s actions were carried out while he was working as a supply teacher, a role that allowed him to be in close contact with children.

During the court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, Judge Timothy Rose sentenced Clark, aged 71 and residing at Rye Park, Winkleigh, to five years and ten months in prison. Clark pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault or indecency. The judge emphasized the profound and lasting damage caused by Clark’s actions, stating that he had “blighted the life” of his victim for over 30 years. As part of his sentence, Clark was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Judge Rose addressed Clark directly, saying, “The harm inflicted by this pattern of offending was not just confined to the time when it was taking place. It is plain the victim has lived with it ever since and tortured himself over the remainder of his childhood and into adulthood. He is only now just able to move on. Your abuse has blighted his life for a period exceeding 30 years. I have to sentence you for the lifelong impact on the victim.”

Prosecutor Miss Heather Hope recounted that Clark’s offending began after he moved from London to Devon. She explained that Clark, who had previously been a teacher in London, was living on a smallholding and working as a supply teacher in various schools across Devon. During the trial, Clark claimed he could not remember committing any of the offences, despite admitting to the charges on the first day of his trial last month.

The impact statement read aloud in court revealed the deep emotional scars left by Clark’s actions. The victim expressed ongoing struggles with forming close relationships and described feeling like he was constantly running from his past. Since coming forward and reporting the abuse, he experienced a mixture of relief and a sense of justice being served, which he described as a turning point in his life.

It was also revealed that Clark had previously touched two primary school pupils over their clothing in the mid-1990s, which resulted in a probation order issued in September 1996. Despite these earlier convictions, his recent guilty plea and the severity of his current crimes led to his substantial prison sentence, marking a significant step in addressing historic abuse cases in North Devon.