TREVOR SLEEP AND NICOLLETTE SLEEP FROM LAUNCESTON AND OKEHAMPTON SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN THE WEST COUNTRY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the West Country, a couple from Launceston and Okehampton have been convicted and sentenced for heinous acts of child sexual abuse. The offences, which spanned over five years, involved two young victims—a girl and a boy—who endured unimaginable suffering, including violence, misery, and exploitation.

According to court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, Nicolette Sleep, aged 36 and residing in Okehampton, Devon, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of seven counts of indecency with a child and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. Her husband, Trevor Sleep, aged 43 and from Launceston, Cornwall, received a 10-year sentence following his conviction on four counts of indecent assault.

The criminal acts reportedly began when the girl was approximately eight years old, while the boy was around 14. The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, which included not only sexual assault but also psychological manipulation and coercion. The judge, Graham Cottle, described the crimes as “totally abhorrent,” emphasizing the severity and depravity of the offences.

Judge Cottle remarked that the term “evil” is often overused, but in this case, it was the only fitting description. He detailed how Nicolette Sleep exploited her young victim, using her as a “sexual object” when she was only seven and eight years old. The court also revealed that Nicolette encouraged her husband to carry out sexual assaults on the victims, while the children were forced to watch a pornographic video, an act she claimed was “a bit of fun.”

Furthermore, the judge stated that Trevor Sleep was a “willing participant,” who took pleasure in abusing a child as young as seven, an act that the court classified as rape. The sentences reflect the gravity of the crimes committed by the couple, who have now been removed from society to serve their respective terms for their horrific actions in the West Country.