STUART SAUNDERS FROM NEWTON ABBOT SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the community of Newton Abbot, Stuart Saunders, aged 52 and residing on Sheldon Road, has been handed a substantial prison sentence of 16 years after pleading guilty to a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of three young children.

Saunders faced Exeter Crown Court where Judge Graham Cottle detailed the severity of the offences, which included five counts of rape and multiple indecent assaults on children under the age of 13. The judge described Saunders' actions as a 'catalogue of abuse' that inflicted lasting trauma on the victims, emphasizing the devastating impact of his crimes.

The court was informed that Saunders employed manipulative tactics such as bribery, coercion, and, in some instances, threats to carry out his offences. These acts spanned over a period of time, during which Saunders maintained his innocence, denying all allegations and forcing a lengthy three-year police investigation. Despite the initial denial, Saunders eventually admitted to the charges.

It was revealed that Saunders had originally denied all accusations, and a trial was scheduled for early April. However, in a dramatic turn, he attempted to take his own life in January, an act the judge interpreted as an effort to evade responsibility and hinder the legal process. During his recovery, consideration was given to abandoning the trial, but all three victims expressed their desire for justice to be served, insisting that Saunders face the court and answer for his actions.

Prosecutor Mary McCarthy provided details of the abuse, stating that the victims had been subjected to repeated rape and assault over an extended period. The allegations came to light in 2007 when one of the victims disclosed the abuse.

Defense lawyer David Evans argued that Saunders was beginning to confront his true nature by accepting responsibility for his crimes, a point that the judge acknowledged but did not diminish the gravity of the offences.

During sentencing, Judge Cottle highlighted the profound and catastrophic effects the abuse had on the victims, referencing their impact statements. Saunders, who was described as bespectacled, showed little emotion as the sentence was read and was subsequently taken from the courtroom.

He was sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison, with concurrent terms of 14 and 12 years for the rape offences, and an additional two years for sexual assaults. The court also ordered that Saunders serve half of his sentence before being eligible for parole and imposed a sexual offences prevention order. Additionally, he received a 12-month concurrent sentence for making a false representation to obtain a passport.

Following the hearing, Detective Constable Andrew Vaughan from the child abuse investigation unit in Torquay commented on Saunders' lack of remorse, stating, 'At no time has Saunders shown any remorse to his victims in order to stop them being put through three years of sheer hell. Not only have they had to deal with the serious nature of the offences and the physical cost it has had on them, but also the lengthy legal process because of his selfish actions.'