ROBIN PITTS FROM DAWLISH SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN DEVON

In a case that has shocked the community of Dawlish and the wider Devon area, pensioner Robin Pitts has been sentenced to a five-year prison term after being found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse involving young children. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of misconduct that spanned several years, with Pitts, aged 69 and residing on Warren Road in Dawlish, facing serious allegations that culminated in his conviction last year.

Despite his initial denial of all charges, Pitts was convicted on four counts of sexual assault and two counts of inciting a young girl to engage in sexual activity. The court also found him guilty of three counts of sexual activity and one count of indecency against a young boy. However, a judge directed that Pitts be acquitted on one count of indecent assault involving the boy, leaving the remaining charges intact.

The prosecution, led by Andrew Oldland, detailed the disturbing nature of the abuse. The young boy, whose age ranged from four to eight during the incidents, was subjected to abuse that was described as particularly heinous. The young girl, approximately five years old when her ordeal began, was also victimized, with the abuse continuing until she was six, in 2007. The court heard that Pitts employed bizarre and manipulative games to exploit the children, a tactic that made the abuse even more insidious.

The discovery of the abuse came when the young boy made a remark that shocked his father, prompting the father to contact the police. The investigation uncovered the extent of Pitts’s misconduct, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial. During the proceedings, Pitts’s defense counsel, Lee Bremridge, highlighted Pitts’s serious health issues, which he claimed were the result of a road accident that occurred in 1991.

Judge Paul Darlow, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of Pitts’s actions and ordered that he be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. This measure ensures that Pitts will be monitored and that the community remains protected from any potential future offenses. The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and their families, as well as the community of Dawlish, which now grapples with the aftermath of this disturbing case.