KARL HOLE'S CRIMES IN TIVERTON: SEX OFFENDER'S REIGN OF ABUSE AND FAILURE OF PROTECTIONS

In June 2013, serious concerns were raised regarding the handling of a known sex offender, Karl Hole, who resided in Tiverton, and the tragic consequences of decisions made by social services and authorities. Despite his history and the risks associated with his previous convictions, Hole was able to maintain contact with children, leading to a series of heinous abuses that would eventually result in his imprisonment.

Devon County Council defended their stance, asserting that there was no legal basis to prevent Hole from seeing children because he was no longer listed on the sex offenders’ register at the time. This decision came despite Hole’s prior convictions and known risk factors. The council explained that although he was under a hospital order and probation, these restrictions had ended in 2004, leaving him without any active legal restrictions.

Hole, aged 43 and living on Lowman Green in Tiverton, had a troubling history. He was previously convicted of indecent assault in 2000 and was subjected to a treatment program at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish as part of a three-year order. Despite being warned about his past, the families of the children he later abused continued to allow him access, believing that appropriate safeguards were in place.

It was later revealed that Hole had been befriending the families, gaining their trust, and exploiting this relationship to access their children. He paid the children small sums of money—£10 or £15—to buy their silence, and over time, he subjected one girl, aged between eight and twelve, to repeated assaults that escalated to rape. The abuse was only uncovered by chance when police raided a house he was visiting during an unrelated investigation. During the search, officers found him in possession of six photographs of naked children, which he had taken himself.

Further investigation revealed that Hole had admitted to multiple charges, including four counts of making indecent images of children and one of taking such images. The images included six videos depicting sexual activity involving an adult forcing a child to engage in sex. These disturbing findings underscored the severity of his offenses.

In court, Judge Francis Gilbert described the filming of the abuse as an aggravating factor, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crimes. Hole also admitted to five child pornography offenses, which compounded his criminal record. The court heard that he had previously been sentenced to 12 months at Langdon Hospital following his 2000 indecent assault conviction, but by 2013, he remained a significant threat.

Following his conviction, it was announced that Hole would remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. Additionally, he would be subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which would prohibit him from having unsupervised contact with children, aiming to prevent further harm.

The case has prompted discussions about whether more could have been done to protect the victims. It is understood that a serious case review may be initiated, where an independent panel will examine the actions taken by authorities and assess if additional measures could have prevented the abuse. The tragic case highlights the ongoing challenges in managing known offenders and safeguarding vulnerable children in communities like Tiverton.