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VERNON TEAGUE DRIVEN OUT OF TOTNES VILLAGE AFTER SEX OFFENDER CONVICTION
In January 2021, Vernon Teague, a 31-year-old sex offender, faced intense hostility from residents of a small village near Totnes, Devon, which ultimately led to him being forced to leave the community. The local inhabitants, upon discovering his criminal past, began chanting ‘paedophile’ at him in a show of collective outrage, prompting Teague to relocate from the area.Teague’s criminal history includes a conviction from approximately 18 months prior, when he was found guilty of sending sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl via Facebook. His actions drew widespread condemnation, and the community’s response was swift and unforgiving. Following his conviction, Teague was subject to various court orders aimed at preventing further offending, but breaches of these conditions led to additional legal proceedings.
Specifically, Teague, who hails from Harbertonford, was summoned before Plymouth Crown Court to answer charges of violating the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and his registration obligations. It was revealed that he had kept multiple phones, which he failed to declare to authorities, and had stayed overnight at a residence where children were present, both of which contravened the restrictions imposed on him. Between November 2019 and June of the following year, Teague admitted to breaching these orders.
During the court hearing, Ryan Murray, representing Teague, explained that his client occasionally stayed at the home of a friend and former partner, a mother of four. He also acknowledged that Teague possessed three internet-enabled phones that he had not reported to police, although one was an outdated device that had been upgraded, and the others were in “factory reset” mode, rendering them less accessible.
Mr. Murray further recounted that Teague’s decision to leave Harbertonford was directly influenced by the community’s hostile reaction once his past was uncovered. “He moved out of the small village of Harbertonford when his history became known, people would chant ‘paedophile, paedophile’,” he stated.
In sentencing, Judge William Mousley imposed a new two-year community order requiring Teague to complete 240 hours of unpaid work. This was in addition to the existing three-year community order established in June 2019. The court’s decision reflected ongoing concerns about his compliance and risk to the community.
Earlier, in June 2019, Teague had admitted to engaging in sexual communication with a person under the age of 16, specifically a 13-year-old girl. The incident involved sending her sexual messages over Facebook, which the court described as grooming behavior. Despite the seriousness of the offense, Teague was spared immediate imprisonment, largely due to the judge’s consideration of his good character and remorse.
Judge Robert Linford characterized Teague’s actions as predatory, stating, “You exchanged Facebook messages with a 13-year-old girl. It is said that those messages started off as flirtatious and became sexualised. For the word ‘flirtatious’ I insert the word ‘grooming’. In respect of talk of love, that is complete nonsense. It was your sexual gratification.”
Teague’s sentence included a three-year community order, mandatory sex offender treatment, a three-month curfew, and probation supervision. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by communities in dealing with offenders and the importance of strict legal measures to protect vulnerable individuals.