TIMOTHY PRICE, DEVIZES MAYOR, CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN DEVIZES AND DURRINGTON

In a case that has shocked the community of Devizes and Durrington, Timothy Price, a man with a once-respected public profile, was convicted of multiple child sex offences that spanned over several years during the 1970s. The proceedings took place at Salisbury Crown Court, where the jury found Price guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. The allegations stem from a disturbing pattern of abuse inflicted upon a young boy, who was only nine years old when the abuse began, and continued until he was approximately 14.

Price, aged 57 and residing on Waiblingen Way in Devizes, had previously served as the mayor of Devizes in the year 2000. His reputation, once built on community service and public respect, was shattered as the details of his heinous actions emerged during the trial. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, courageously broke a silence that had lasted over three decades by reaching out to Price via email in August 2013. This email marked a turning point, as it was the first time the victim publicly disclosed the extent of the abuse he endured.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors detailed the horrifying nature of the offences. The victim recounted how Price, who was between 16 and 21 years old at the time, repeatedly engaged in acts of sexual assault, including masturbation in front of the boy, touching his genitals, and coercing him into performing sexual acts. The abuse escalated to what the court described as 'oral rape,' where Price forced the boy to perform oral sex and vice versa. The judge described the acts as 'mentally torturing and bullying' the young victim into compliance with Price’s selfish sexual demands.

The court heard that Price’s actions were not isolated incidents but part of a prolonged pattern of abuse that lasted for five years. The victim, now an adult, described the emotional scars left by the ordeal, stating, 'I have spent most of my life pretending I was not subject to the most horrendous sexual abuse. I shut the disgusting memories of what he made me do in a box inside my head.' The impact statement was read aloud in court, revealing the deep psychological trauma inflicted upon the victim.

In addition to the criminal charges, a separate allegation of possessing indecent images was noted but ordered to lie on file, indicating it was not central to the case at hand. Price’s legal team, led by Stephen Dent, argued that the abuse was a product of Price’s experimentation with his sexuality during his youth. Dent emphasized that Price had never forced the victim to comply and suggested that the incidents resembled teenage sexual exploration, albeit with the significant caveat that the victim was only nine years old at the time. Dent also highlighted Price’s contributions to public life, asserting that he had done 'a great deal of good public work' and was respected within the community.

However, the court was not swayed by these arguments. The judge, Recorder Edward Burgess, sentenced Price to three years in prison, noting that the sentence was 'very considerably shorter' than it might have been if Price had been in good health. Price is currently battling terminal prostate cancer, with a prognosis indicating only about 12 months to live. A medical report from a general practitioner suggested that incarceration would hinder his ability to receive effective treatment, which influenced the court’s decision on sentencing.

Prosecutor Matthew Scott presented a powerful impact statement from the victim, who expressed the lifelong torment caused by Price’s actions. The victim described how he had tried to tell family members about the abuse but was overwhelmed by shame and fear, which kept him silent for many years. The email he sent to Price in 2013 revealed the depth of his suffering, stating, 'You made my life hell by asking me and making me do things an adult should never ask a child to do. The nightmares are always there and never go away.'

Price’s response to the email, which was read in court, was a stark confession of guilt. He admitted to the abuse, stating, 'I suppose I always knew the day would come. Of course I bitterly regret my sexual abuse of you over many years and in no way should you feel it was anyone’s fault but mine. Of course I apologise for my crimes. I hope that helps in some way.' Despite this, Price maintained his innocence during the trial, denying all charges. His defense argued that the victim was seeking compensation and was motivated by a desire to retaliate for alleged childhood bullying.

The jury, after deliberating, returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts, bringing a long-overdue measure of justice for the victim. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Devizes, where Price’s reputation was once held in high regard. As he awaits sentencing, questions remain about the full extent of his actions and the impact on those he harmed, with many in the community reflecting on the importance of justice and the protection of vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.