DAVID MILTON AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN HOLSWORTHY AND NEWTON ABBOT

A man named David Milton, who has a disturbing history of abusing young girls, has been sentenced to prison once again for heinous acts committed in the area of Holsworthy and Newton Abbot. This is not his first conviction; Milton, now 83 years old, was previously serving a 16-year sentence for abusing two other young girls during the 1970s and 1980s. His latest crimes involve two additional victims, both of whom were primary school-aged girls at the time of the abuse.

The recent allegations emerged when two women came forward in 2021, revealing that Milton had subjected them to sexual abuse during the late 1970s. One of these victims recounted that her ordeal began when she visited Milton’s home in Newton Abbot. During these visits, Milton would offer alcohol to the young girls present, encouraging them to behave in a giggly and hyperactive manner, and even to dance naked. The victim described how Milton’s actions included sexual touching when they were alone, and how he took her into his bed while his wife was working night shifts at a nearby holiday camp. She was told that their activities were “just a little game,” a tactic Milton used to prevent her from revealing the abuse.

The second girl, who only visited Milton’s residence once, also reported being taken into his bed, where he placed his hand inside her underwear and asked her, “do you like that?” She was only able to realize the severity of what had happened to her when she later attended sex education lessons at secondary school. She expressed regret that she had not reported Milton earlier, believing she had been misled into thinking he had died in the 1990s.

In her victim personal statement, the first woman described the lasting impact of Milton’s actions, stating that she has endured a lifetime of suffering. She described her emotional scars as “a scar that never heals,” which continues to be scratched and causes ongoing pain and anguish. She accused Milton of believing he had the right to use young girls as “playthings” to satisfy his warped desires.

Milton, who formerly resided on Howards Way in Newton Abbot, admitted to four counts of indecent assault against one girl and one count against another, all occurring in the late 1970s. The court heard that he had led a largely blameless life apart from a brief period in the 1970s. Despite his age and health issues, which the defense argued would make imprisonment more difficult, Judge David Evans sentenced him to six years in prison, with an additional two-year extended license. Milton is already registered as a sex offender for life.

During the sentencing, Judge Evans emphasized the gravity of Milton’s abuse, stating, “You grossly abused your position and grossly exploited the victims’ youth and innocence by assaulting them in the ways they have described. It took a great deal of courage for them to speak out.” The judge also highlighted the long-term harm inflicted upon the victims, noting that they have had to live with the trauma for decades while Milton moved on unaffected. “That disparity is a real injustice and no sentence I pass can undo that injustice,” he added.

Prosecutor Heather Hope explained that the two new victims had come forward after many years, with one recalling her abuse at Milton’s house in the 1970s. She recounted how Milton would give alcohol to the girls, encouraging them to be “giggly and hyper,” and to dance naked. She also detailed how Milton sexually touched her when they were alone and took her into his bed, where he made inappropriate advances. The other victim described her single visit to Milton’s home, where he assaulted her sexually and asked if she liked it.

Milton’s defense attorney, Herc Ashworth, contested the allegations, asserting that Milton denied giving alcohol to the girls. He described Milton as having led a “blameless life” apart from his brief period of misconduct in the 1970s. The defense also pointed out Milton’s poor health, which they argued would make his time in prison particularly difficult.

This case is part of a broader pattern of allegations against Milton, who was previously convicted in 2017 for similar offenses. During that trial, he denied any sexual contact with two other girls, but the jury found him guilty. One of those victims testified that she was so young and innocent when Milton abused her that she only realized the seriousness of his actions when she attended sex education lessons at school.

All of these offenses took place while Milton was living on an estate near Newton Abbot. The prosecution described him as having “an insatiable appetite for young children and no inhibitions at all,” and accused him of brainwashing his victims and bullying them into silence by threatening to take them into care if they revealed his abuse. Milton’s long history of offending culminated in a 16-year sentence, with 15 years to be served in prison and an additional year under extended license.