SHOCKING CRIME IN PLYMOUTH: IAN SYMONDS GROOMS AND RAPES 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Plymouth, Ian Symonds, a 40-year-old man, has been convicted of heinous sexual offenses involving a young girl.The crimes span over a period of more than three years, during which Symonds systematically groomed and manipulated the victim, ultimately raping her when she was only 12 years old.
Symonds, who was a member of a church community in Plymouth, began his sinister grooming process more than a year prior to the assault.
His initial contact with the girl took place in a pub car park, where he gradually gained her trust through a series of manipulative gestures.
Over time, he convinced her to engage in a clandestine, underage relationship that lasted approximately three years.
Symonds exploited religious justifications to persuade her that their relationship was sanctioned by God, even going so far as to tell her that the Virgin Mary was only 12 when she and Joseph first consummated their marriage, thus attempting to normalize their illicit relationship.
Using his position as a drummer in a church band, Symonds was able to meet and groom the girl, eventually engaging in sexual activity with her around 100 times.
Most of these encounters took place in his works van, often in scenic spots such as Stover Country Park near Newton Abbot.
The girl, who was nearly 20 years younger than Symonds, only began to question his motives after watching episodes of the television soap opera EastEnders, which included storylines about child abuse.
Her parents grew suspicious when she turned 15, leading them to restrict her meetings with Symonds.
However, Symonds responded by creating a joint Facebook account under false names, through which he continued to communicate with her, exchanging messages and explicit photographs.
Further evidence of his manipulative behavior was revealed through a series of car karaoke videos he recorded, in which he sang love songs and directed personal messages at the camera, including a disturbing statement: ‘and I mean you’.
When the girl eventually ended their relationship, Symonds falsely claimed to have cancer in an attempt to elicit her sympathy.
In reality, he was a healthy bodybuilder who spent hours at the gym.
The victim, in her victim impact statement, expressed her ongoing struggles, revealing that she has distanced herself from the church and continues to suffer from flashbacks and psychological trauma.
She also shared that she cannot bear to receive flowers or chocolates, as these gifts remind her of the grooming process and the gifts Symonds showered her with during their relationship.
Following a jury trial at Exeter Crown Court, Symonds was found guilty of two counts of rape, five counts of sexual activity with a child, and one count of making indecent images of a girl.
The court sentenced him to 20 years in prison, with Judge Timothy Rose also ordering that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
Additionally, Symonds was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits any future contact with underage girls.
Judge Rose described the offenses as profoundly serious, emphasizing that Symonds developed a sexual obsession with the girl, who was confused and vulnerable due to her age and immaturity.
The judge condemned Symonds for brainwashing her into engaging in frequent sexual activity, highlighting the extensive manipulation and the devastating impact on her emotional well-being.
The judge stated, “She was confused, as you would expect given her age and immaturity, and the reality is that you brainwashed her into engaging in frequent and continued sexual activity.
You bombarded her with gifts and comprehensively manipulated her in a way which blighted her childhood and has had a devastating effect on her emotional well-being.
It was persistent and hugely damaging child abuse.” Prosecutor Mr.
Peter Coombe explained that Symonds knew the girl’s family through their shared church attendance and began grooming her with gifts when she was just ten or eleven years old.
The abuse escalated when Symonds took her to a pub for dinner and then overpowered her in his car when she was 12.
She described the experience as “horrible.” Symonds continued to see her afterward, sometimes picking her up from school in his works van and taking her to secluded spots around South Devon.
On one occasion, he threatened her with a knife, forcing her into sexual acts under the threat of harm to her family.
The court heard that Symonds used false names on Facebook to communicate with the girl, claiming that their relationship was a gift from God.
One message suggested that Mary was 12 and Joseph was 14 or possibly 19, attempting to manipulate her religious beliefs to justify his actions.
The girl ended the relationship when she was 15, but Symonds continued to pursue her, falsely claiming to have cancer in a message sent after their breakup.
Symonds denied the allegations of sexual activity, claiming there had never been any such acts, but was convicted within just 30 minutes of deliberation.
As the case concluded, Symonds was remanded in custody until his sentencing scheduled for January 20.
The community and the court have expressed their outrage at the severity of his crimes, which have left a lasting scar on the young victim and her family, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding within community institutions like churches.
