PETER WELLS FROM KINGSTEIGNTON AND WITHERIDGE SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Kingsteignton and Witheridge, Peter Wells, aged 63, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses against two young children. The crimes, which spanned over several years during the 1990s, involved the manipulation and abuse of a boy and a girl, whose ages at the time ranged from just four to eleven years old.

Wells, who resided at Butts Close in Witheridge and previously lived on Exeter Road in Kingsteignton, employed a disturbing tactic to lure his victims. He used innocent-seeming games of hide and seek to entice the children into a makeshift den at his home, where he then subjected them to sexual abuse. The children, initially unaware of the gravity of what was happening, believed they were participating in harmless play. However, as the abuse continued, it escalated into humiliating and physically painful sexual assaults, including rapes.

The court heard that Wells denied multiple charges, including one count of rape and eleven counts of indecency against the boy, as well as three counts of rape and five counts of indecent assault against the girl. Despite his denials, the jury found him guilty of all charges after a week-long trial. The judge, Recorder Mr. Paul Garlick, QC, sentenced Wells to 15 years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. In his remarks, the judge stated, “You devastated the lives of two young children. I have heard them describing the incidents you were responsible for during their early childhoods. No doubt they will continue to suffer the psychological effects for the rest of their lives. That is something you will also have to live with. This is the most serious case and the sentence must reflect the seriousness of your offences.”

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Samantha Napier from the Barnstaple public protection unit expressed her support for the victims and praised their bravery. She said, “Peter Wells seriously sexually abused very young children. I would like to praise the courage of the victims and witnesses in this case. I hope they can now try to rebuild their lives and may feel justice has been served.”

The prosecution presented evidence that Wells had visited his victims at his homes in Witheridge and Kingsteignton during the 1990s, exploiting their innocence and trust. The victims, now adults, shared heartbreaking accounts of how the abuse started with seemingly innocent games but eventually turned into painful and traumatic sexual assaults. The girl, who has since grown into an adult, described the lasting impact of the abuse, stating, “I realised what had happened was not right. Looking back, it has ruined my life. I cannot trust anyone.”

This case has left a lasting scar on the local communities, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the courage of victims to come forward. Peter Wells will now serve a lengthy prison sentence, reflecting the gravity of his crimes against two vulnerable children from the areas of Kingsteignton and Witheridge.