LEE POLLARD AND MARK ALLEN SENTENCED IN TORQUAY AND CHUDLEIGH KNIGHTON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 14-YEAR-OLDS

In a significant development in the ongoing fight against child sexual exploitation, two men, Lee Pollard and Mark Allen, have been convicted and subsequently sentenced for their involvement in abusing two 14-year-old girls. The incidents took place in the coastal towns of Torquay and Chudleigh Knighton, with the offenders' actions coming under intense scrutiny following an appeal by the Solicitor General.

Initially, at Exeter Crown Court in November, both Pollard and Allen received sentences of 15 months in prison, suspended for two years. However, this leniency was challenged after a formal complaint from one of the victim's mothers, who expressed her dissatisfaction with the court's decision. The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and decided to overturn the original sentences, replacing them with immediate imprisonment. As a result, Lee Pollard, aged 26 and residing in Saxmundham, Suffolk, was sentenced to a prison term of two years and nine months. Meanwhile, Mark Allen, also 26 and from Torquay, received a sentence of three years and six months behind bars.

Both men had been convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a minor after a trial in which they denied knowing that the girls were underage. The offences occurred during a party in Dawlish, Devon, where the two girls, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, were present. The court heard that the girls had been drinking and using amphetamines before the men arrived at the flat. The trial revealed that the girls had been given alcohol and drugs by Pollard and Allen, who then engaged in sexual acts with them. One girl had full sexual intercourse with Pollard, while both girls experienced oral sex with Allen.

Judge Graham Cottle, presiding over the case, initially characterized the sexual activity as consensual, citing the intoxication of the girls and their state of undress as factors. He stated that the girls were 'almost naked' when the men arrived and that the sexual acts were carried out with their apparent consent. However, this assessment was later challenged, leading to the appeal and the subsequent harsher sentences. The Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, issued a statement condemning the actions of Pollard and Allen, emphasizing that both men knowingly engaged with the underage girls despite being aware of their age. Buckland stated, “Despite knowing that the girls were only 14 years old, Pollard and Allen engaged them in sexual activity and provided them both with alcohol and drugs. They have no excuse for their behaviour. I hope that the increased sentences will bring some comfort to the girls’ families.”

In December 2017, the mother of one of the victims expressed her outrage at the judge’s comments, which suggested that her daughter had given consent to sex after being intoxicated. She described her feelings as “horrified” and criticized the judge for implying that her daughter, who was not in a fit state to consent, had willingly engaged in sexual activity. She explained that her daughter had gone out expecting to spend time with friends, unaware that Pollard and Allen would be present. The mother emphasized her belief that her daughter was not capable of consenting due to her intoxicated state and condemned the judge’s remarks as deeply inappropriate.

The trial, which concluded in November 2017, saw both Pollard and Allen found guilty of sexual activity with minors. The jury determined that both men knew the girls’ true ages, despite their denials. The case highlighted the dangers of underage drinking and drug use, as well as the predatory behavior of the offenders. The girls, both 14, had lied to their parents about their whereabouts, claiming they were at sleepovers, but instead went to a flat in Dawlish where the defendants had gathered with alcohol and drugs. The night culminated in sexual acts, with Pollard and Allen engaging in full and oral sex with the girls. The trial also revealed that the men ordered more alcohol and condoms during the night, with Allen paying for the additional supplies.

Throughout the proceedings, both defendants maintained that they believed the girls were over 16, despite evidence to the contrary. The case drew widespread condemnation, with police praising the bravery of the victims in coming forward. The father of one of the girls expressed his anger and disappointment, describing the offenders as “baseball cap and gold chain wearing chavvy types.” The case underscores the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation and the importance of holding offenders accountable for their actions in communities across Devon, including Torquay and Chudleigh Knighton.