June 2007 Paedophile jailed for sexually abusing young girl for over 10 years A 59-year-old Exeter man has been jailed for six years after volunteering information to the police that he had been sexually abusing a young girl. Gerald Holmes of Warwick road, Heavitree was sent to prison for two offences of indecent assault at Exeter Crown Court The court heard that the physical abuse started when the victim was aged just four, escalating to sexual abuse at the age of eight or nine. The court was told that the victim pleaded with him to stop but the abuse went on until she reached sixteen years old. The offences came to light when the Devon children and young persons unit received a letter from Holmes admitting that he had been sexually abusing the girl Holmes was ordered to sign on the sex offenders register for life. He was also told that he is prohibited from seeking, obtaining or engaging in any activity or employment, whether for payment or otherwise, which would bring the defendant into unsupervised contact with children or young persons under the age of 16-years-old.