JEFFERY CHURCH, HOLSWORTHY SEX OFFENDER, FAILS TO REPORT LIVING IN TENT IN EXE VALLEY

In June 2014, Jeffery Church, a known sex offender with a lengthy criminal history, appeared in court facing charges related to his failure to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register. The case highlighted his ongoing struggles with homelessness and his repeated disregard for legal obligations.

Church, aged 66, was found to have neglected to inform police of his current residence because he had been living rough in a tent situated in the Exe Valley. He claimed that he simply forgot to notify authorities about his temporary shelter, a lapse he attributed to his homelessness and the chaotic nature of his lifestyle. Despite this, he expressed a willingness to accept incarceration, citing back pain and frustration over his inability to secure stable accommodation as reasons for his attitude.

Throughout his criminal record, Church has demonstrated a pattern of failing to adhere to the strict conditions of the register, which mandates that sex offenders notify police of any change of address within three days. His nomadic existence has seen him move frequently across Exeter, Plymouth, and the wider Mid and South Devon areas. In total, he has failed to update his address with law enforcement authorities on 13 separate occasions.

At the time of his latest offence, Church’s last registered address was a hostel in Exeter. He admitted to breaching the terms of the Sex Offenders’ Register, and the case was adjourned for an additional two weeks to allow him time to secure legal representation. However, during his court appearance at Exeter Crown Court, he was unrepresented due to ongoing disputes between local law firms and the government over cuts to legal aid funding.

Church explained to the judge that he had only missed his signing obligation by a day. He recounted that he had gone to the police station voluntarily to provide details about his tent’s location when he was arrested. He stated, “I was camping rough in the Exe Valley but got a back injury which became too much for me. The Sergeant said he was going to let me off with a severe warning and I said ‘sod it’ as I left and he arrested me.”

He further expressed regret, saying, “I thought at least I could go back to prison to get treatment for my back but in hindsight I should just have walked away when I had the chance. I want to settle down and get help to find somewhere to live. I keep trying to see the housing officer at prison but the place is bursting, and I haven’t been able to see anyone.”

Judge Erik Salomonsen advised Church to persist in his efforts to find accommodation, mentioning that there might be a place available for him at the Oakfields Project in Howell Road, Exeter. The judge’s comments came amid concerns over Church’s extensive criminal record, which includes 65 convictions, notably several for sex crimes. Since being placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register in 2008, he has repeatedly violated its conditions.

Church’s history includes previous jail sentences in Devon, Cornwall, and London for failing to notify police of his whereabouts. His most recent incarceration was a ten-month sentence in July of the same year, after he failed to register following his release from Exeter Prison. This followed a conviction for sexually assaulting a girl at a bus stop in Plymouth. His initial placement on the register stemmed from a conviction for sexual touching at Truro Crown Court in March 2008, marking a long and troubling pattern of offending and non-compliance.