GRAHAM WEST EXETER SEX OFFENDER VIGILANTE ATTACK

In April 2011, a disturbing incident unfolded in Exeter involving a mother’s act of vigilantism against her former neighbour, Graham West, a man with a long history of sexual offences. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was initially concerned about West’s behaviour towards children in her community. She had reported him to the police after witnessing him showering children with water from his garden hose, encouraging them to dance, and even filming their activities. At that time, police assured her that there was no cause for concern, describing West as 'of no concern.'

Believing her worries were unfounded, she apologized to West and even sent her then-eight-year-old daughter over to his house with a card to express her remorse. However, her perception changed dramatically after she read a newspaper report revealing West’s criminal convictions. The report detailed that West had been convicted of sex offences involving children, with crimes spanning over three decades. These offences included sexually abusing teenage boys and possessing indecent images of children. The revelation left her feeling betrayed and deeply upset.

Further investigations by police uncovered disturbing evidence. Officers found a CD hidden under a sofa where West had been sitting, which he admitted contained child pornography. West remarked, “I almost got away with it but you looked under the seat,” indicating his awareness of the police’s discovery. Additionally, they recovered a mobile phone containing a video clip of a woman engaging in sexual acts with an animal, as well as an old video cassette in a bedroom box that showed a teenage boy performing a sexual act. The court was informed that the nature and quantity of the indecent images on the CD were not fully disclosed, but West claimed they were a small collection, obtained from an unnamed individual, and had been made in recent years.

Her anger simmered over time, especially after her trust in the authorities was shattered. This culminated in a night of rage earlier this year, when she went out drinking and decided to take her frustrations out on West’s property. On February 4, she carried out a destructive rampage on Isca Road, Haven Banks, Exeter, smashing eight of West’s windows and damaging his front door. Her actions were witnessed by neighbors, and police responded swiftly, arresting her at 2:30 a.m. at her home following a 999 call from a witness who saw her vandalizing the property.

During her court appearance at Exeter Magistrates’ Court, she admitted to causing £440 worth of damage. A probation officer described her as a young woman who was very upset and ashamed of her actions, emphasizing that she did not approve of vigilantism and felt her concerns had not been adequately addressed by authorities. The court heard that West, aged 52 at the time, had previously been jailed for four months in September of the previous year. Police had described him as a “very dangerous” individual, citing his criminal record for sexual offences against teenage boys in the 1970s and 1980s. West had pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, one of making such images, and another of possessing extreme pornographic material.

In sentencing, magistrates issued her a conditional discharge for one year and ordered her to pay £290 in compensation. The court emphasized the importance of the rule of law, stating, “You don’t take the law into your own hands,” underscoring the seriousness of her vigilante actions and the need for justice to be administered through proper channels.