WILLIAM PUTMAN FROM TORQUAY JAILED FOR RAPE AT SEASIDE HOLIDAY PARK NEAR KINGSBRIDGE
In a case that has shocked the local community, William Putman, a teacher formerly residing in Newton Abbot, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed at a seaside holiday park near Kingsbridge.The incident took place at Challaborough, a popular holiday destination known for its scenic coastal views and family-friendly atmosphere.
According to court proceedings, Putman forcibly engaged a woman in sexual acts within a caravan while she was staying there with her children.
The woman was in a neighboring room, and despite her clear verbal objections, Putman persisted in his assault.
She was unable to call for help during the attack because she was concerned about waking her children, which added a layer of complexity and distress to her ordeal.
It was revealed during the trial that this was not an isolated incident.
The same woman had been subjected to at least two previous instances of sexual coercion by Putman.
Court evidence also indicated that Putman had an obsessive interest in oral sex, which appeared to be a recurring theme in his behavior.
The Exeter Crown Court heard detailed accounts of his actions and the victim’s distress.
William Putman, aged 36, of Oak Hill Road in Torquay, denied two counts of rape and one count of battery.
However, after a thorough trial, the jury found him guilty on all charges earlier this week.
The judge, Graham Cottle, sentenced him to ten years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Cottle described Putman as a controlling and aggressive individual, emphasizing his obsession with oral sex as a significant aspect of the case.
He stated, “You were a controlling and aggressive man.
You were absolutely obsessed by oral sex.
That was a common theme of the evidence.
During the rape in the caravan, the victim made it absolutely clear she had no interest in any sort of sexual activity at all that night.
You went into the room where she was sleeping and raped her.
She did not fight or scream because she did not want to disturb a baby who was in the room or other children sleeping close by.
She simply submitted.” In a separate verdict, Putman was acquitted of indecently assaulting another woman by forcing her to perform oral sex while he was living in Newton Abbot.
Nonetheless, he was convicted of raping the second woman by forcing her into oral sex against her will on at least two occasions, including the incident at Challaborough.
Putman maintained that all sexual activities were consensual and bizarrely claimed that the woman involved in the Challaborough incident had joined him for breakfast at the on-site café the following morning, further complicating the case and raising questions about his perception of the events.
