CHRIS DAY FROM BIDEFORD SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS FOR DEPRAVED SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the North Devon community, Chris Day, a 38-year-old businessman from Bideford, was sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of heinous sex offences committed against two underage girls. The crimes, which involved grooming and explicit messaging, have left a lasting impact on the victims and have brought significant media attention to the small town of Bideford.

Day, who resides on Moreton Park Road in Bideford, appeared at Exeter Crown Court yesterday to face the consequences of his actions. He was dressed in a shirt and smart trousers, standing with his head bowed and hands clasped in front of him as the sentence was handed down. The court heard that he had been convicted of 18 separate offences after a trial in which he denied all allegations, claiming that he had no sexual interest in the girls and that the child sexual abuse images found on his devices were the result of accidental exposure to pop-up advertisements on legal websites.

Prosecutor Gareth Evans detailed the disturbing nature of the offences, revealing that Day had sent explicit text messages to both victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time. The court was told that Day had asked one of the girls to send him intimate photographs, commenting on her appearance with messages like, “I think your body looks good.” The victims suffered from sleeplessness, psychological distress, and required counseling to cope with the trauma inflicted upon them.

One of the girls confided in police that she had no prior experience with boys when she was in Day’s company, sitting in his car. During this conversation, Day reportedly said, “I’m just going to have to teach you then,” implying an inappropriate and sexual intent. The police investigation was triggered when an adult discovered one of the girls attempting to send a sexual message to Day, which led to further inquiries. The girl also revealed that she felt she was involved in an “affair” with Day, which she initially believed was consensual.

Further examination of Day’s electronic devices uncovered a disturbing collection of child sexual abuse images. Police found a total of 1,852 such images spread across three of his computers, all downloaded from the internet. This evidence contributed to the severity of the case and the court’s decision.

During the hearing, Day’s defense lawyer, Richard Crabb, highlighted that his client had no prior criminal record and was known for his charity work within the community. Crabb also mentioned that Day had been struggling with mental health issues in custody, including self-harm. He emphasized the devastating impact the conviction had on Day’s family and his business, which was established by his late father and had been thriving before the case. Since the publicity surrounding the trial, however, the company had been losing contracts and facing financial difficulties.

Judge Philip Wassall sentenced Day to seven years in prison and imposed a Sex Offences Prevention Order. Additionally, he ordered Day to register on the Sex Offenders Register until further notice, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community from potential future offences.