CHRISTOPHER HOUGHTON AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN EXETER
A 26-year-old resident of Exeter has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of raping a 12-year-old boy.Christopher Houghton was involved in a series of disturbing sexual offenses against the young victim, which included multiple assaults and attempts to conceal his actions through bribery.
According to reports, Houghton engaged in several sexual assaults on the minor and made efforts to silence him by offering various gifts.
Additionally, he took indecent photographs of the child and shared these images with another individual known to be a paedophile.
These heinous acts were only brought to light after the boy confided in his parents, leading to Houghton's subsequent arrest.
Houghton, who resides on Brunswick Street in Exeter, faced multiple serious charges when appearing before court.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a child under the age of 13, four counts of raping the young boy, as well as charges related to producing and sharing indecent images.
The court sentenced him to a term of eight years in prison.
Representing him in court, Mr.
Rupert Taylor outlined that Houghton was forthright about his misconduct and has expressed remorse for his actions.
It was noted that Houghton has been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum with accompanying learning difficulties.
Despite his past, he was described as a man of previous good character.
The court was also informed that the abuse inflicted significant mental health issues on the young victim, contributing to ongoing emotional trauma.
Judge Anna Richardson acknowledged Houghton’s age at the time of the offenses—only 23—and noted that he was “barely had an adult brain” during the incidents.
In addition, references provided during the hearing described him as a “kind and thoughtful” individual, and since his arrest, he has been behaving well in custody, actively engaging in courses aimed at addressing his behavior.
As part of the sentence, Houghton is required to serve at least two-thirds of his eight-year term before being eligible for parole or release, ensuring that there is a period of confinement to reflect the severity of his crimes in Exeter.
