OKEHAMPTON MAN TOBY WHEDDON SLAPPED WITH SEXUAL RISK ORDER
A 55-year-old man from Okehampton has been hit with a tough three-year Sexual Risk Order after a court heard serious concerns about his behaviour around young boys.Toby John Wheddon, of Berryball Close, was hauled before magistrates after police applied for the order—used only when officers believe someone poses a real danger despite not being convicted of a sexual offence.
The court agreed that Wheddon’s conduct raised significant red flags, granting an SRO packed with strict bans designed to protect children.
Under the terms of the order, Wheddon is forbidden from any contact or communication with boys under 18—including face-to-face conversations, messages, calls, social media, or even indirect contact.
The prohibition applies to every male minor, no exceptions.
A Sexual Risk Order is one of the strongest civil powers available to police, reserved for situations where behaviour is considered so worrying that immediate restrictions are needed to prevent potential harm.
Breaching it is a criminal offence carrying up to five years in prison.
The exact details of the behaviour that triggered the application were not made public, but the decision to impose a full three-year order indicates magistrates believed there was a credible threat to children.
Residents in Okehampton have described the case as “deeply unsettling,” with many expressing relief that the courts acted quickly to shut down any opportunity for contact with young boys.
Police say they will be monitoring Wheddon closely to ensure he does not breach the order.
