EDWARD OWENS: EXETER AND BARNSTAPLE PAEDOPHILE BUS DRIVER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR DECADES OF ABUSE
| Red Rose Database
Exeter Barnstaple Rapist
In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Barnstaple, Exeter, and the surrounding areas, Edward Owens, a 69-year-old former bus driver and ex-soldier, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over more than three decades. The court heard how Owens, who had managed to conceal his predatory tendencies for most of his life, finally faced justice after a recent incident involving a 12-year-old boy, which led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.
Owens, who was wheelchair-bound and visibly frail during his court appearance, was found guilty of eleven serious sexual assaults against two boys aged between 12 and 16 during the 1980s and 1990s. These assaults included acts that would now be classified as male rape. Additionally, he was convicted of abusing two more boys, one aged 16 in 2010 and another aged 12 in 2013. The jury also found him guilty of five counts of indecent assault on one of his earlier victims.
The court was told that Owens had a long history of abusing young boys, which was only fully uncovered after the recent incident involving the 12-year-old boy. The victim, who was staying with neighbors at the time, had gone to Owens’ home in Exeter to play computer games. Owens, who had been drinking wine with the boy, began to undress him, but the boy, showing remarkable presence of mind, managed to escape and lock himself in the bathroom, where he texted his mother for help. The mother responded promptly, and Owens was arrested shortly thereafter.
Further investigations revealed that Owens had a disturbing history of complaints dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, which had been dismissed or ignored due to a lack of corroborating evidence. It was only after the recent incident that authorities revisited his background, uncovering a pattern of grooming and abuse that spanned decades. Owens had lived in Tedburn St. Mary, Barnstaple, and Exeter, working as a bus driver on various routes across Devon, including the Teign Valley service to Christow. Despite his criminal history, Owens had managed to maintain a façade of a respectable family man, being married with two children, even after being expelled from the army in 1976 for 'disgraceful conduct' involving a young soldier.
During the trial at Exeter Crown Court, Owens claimed that the boys had initiated the sexual contact, a defense that the jury found monstrous and without merit. The judge, Graham Cottle, condemned Owens’ claims, emphasizing the trauma inflicted on his victims. The judge described the allegations as humiliating and degrading for the victims, who had to relive their experiences during court proceedings. Owens’ defense argued that his lengthy sentence would likely mean he would spend the rest of his life in prison, a sentiment echoed by the prosecution, who noted Owens’ poor health and the severity of his crimes.
At the sentencing, Owens was brought directly from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where he was being treated for breathing difficulties. His appearance in court was marked by his use of a wheelchair, an oxygen cylinder, and tubes connected to his nose. Despite his health issues, Owens was observed smoking a cigarette during court breaks, highlighting his chain-smoking habit. The judge acknowledged the unusual circumstances of the case, noting the lack of a clear timeline for Owens’ hospital discharge and expressing concern over the delays in proceedings.
In summary, Edward Owens’ case has brought to light a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over 30 years, involving multiple victims from Barnstaple, Exeter, and other parts of Devon. His actions have left deep scars on his victims, many of whom continue to suffer from psychological trauma, including anger issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, and depression. The community now grapples with the aftermath of this long-hidden abuse, and Owens’ imprisonment marks a significant step toward justice for those affected.
Owens, who was wheelchair-bound and visibly frail during his court appearance, was found guilty of eleven serious sexual assaults against two boys aged between 12 and 16 during the 1980s and 1990s. These assaults included acts that would now be classified as male rape. Additionally, he was convicted of abusing two more boys, one aged 16 in 2010 and another aged 12 in 2013. The jury also found him guilty of five counts of indecent assault on one of his earlier victims.
The court was told that Owens had a long history of abusing young boys, which was only fully uncovered after the recent incident involving the 12-year-old boy. The victim, who was staying with neighbors at the time, had gone to Owens’ home in Exeter to play computer games. Owens, who had been drinking wine with the boy, began to undress him, but the boy, showing remarkable presence of mind, managed to escape and lock himself in the bathroom, where he texted his mother for help. The mother responded promptly, and Owens was arrested shortly thereafter.
Further investigations revealed that Owens had a disturbing history of complaints dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, which had been dismissed or ignored due to a lack of corroborating evidence. It was only after the recent incident that authorities revisited his background, uncovering a pattern of grooming and abuse that spanned decades. Owens had lived in Tedburn St. Mary, Barnstaple, and Exeter, working as a bus driver on various routes across Devon, including the Teign Valley service to Christow. Despite his criminal history, Owens had managed to maintain a façade of a respectable family man, being married with two children, even after being expelled from the army in 1976 for 'disgraceful conduct' involving a young soldier.
During the trial at Exeter Crown Court, Owens claimed that the boys had initiated the sexual contact, a defense that the jury found monstrous and without merit. The judge, Graham Cottle, condemned Owens’ claims, emphasizing the trauma inflicted on his victims. The judge described the allegations as humiliating and degrading for the victims, who had to relive their experiences during court proceedings. Owens’ defense argued that his lengthy sentence would likely mean he would spend the rest of his life in prison, a sentiment echoed by the prosecution, who noted Owens’ poor health and the severity of his crimes.
At the sentencing, Owens was brought directly from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where he was being treated for breathing difficulties. His appearance in court was marked by his use of a wheelchair, an oxygen cylinder, and tubes connected to his nose. Despite his health issues, Owens was observed smoking a cigarette during court breaks, highlighting his chain-smoking habit. The judge acknowledged the unusual circumstances of the case, noting the lack of a clear timeline for Owens’ hospital discharge and expressing concern over the delays in proceedings.
In summary, Edward Owens’ case has brought to light a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over 30 years, involving multiple victims from Barnstaple, Exeter, and other parts of Devon. His actions have left deep scars on his victims, many of whom continue to suffer from psychological trauma, including anger issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, and depression. The community now grapples with the aftermath of this long-hidden abuse, and Owens’ imprisonment marks a significant step toward justice for those affected.