PHILIP HUXTABLE SHOCKING ABUSE SCANDAL IN BARNSTAPLE AND NORTH DEVON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the North Devon community, Philip Huxtable, a well-respected figure in Barnstaple and surrounding areas, has been convicted of serious sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1970s. The 78-year-old, who was once a prominent church elder, council clerk, and community leader, was found guilty of abusing a 14-year-old boy after luring him with the promise of a job on his farm near Shirwell, just outside Barnstaple.

Huxtable’s extensive involvement in the local community included roles as a lay preacher, a governor at two North Devon schools, and a leader of the Boys Brigade troop. He was also actively engaged in youth work, running a youth club in a Chapel hall where he first befriended the young teenager in the early 1970s. At the time, Huxtable was also working with the National Farmers Union (NFU), a position that allowed him to travel across North and Mid Devon, assisting farmers with insurance issues.

The abuse reportedly began shortly after Huxtable employed the boy for a Saturday job at his farm, which was located in Shirwell. The farm was known for breeding pedigree Dexter cattle and Dorset Devon sheep. Over a period of approximately three months, spanning the summer holiday and beyond, Huxtable subjected the boy to repeated acts of sexual misconduct. The assaults took place in a cowshed and inside a van, where Huxtable would give the teenager lifts to his home in a nearby village. The young victim kept his ordeal secret for nearly four decades before finally confiding in his family, seeking help from a counselor, and reporting the abuse to the police.

The court proceedings, held at Exeter Crown Court, revealed the extent of Huxtable’s long-standing involvement in the community, which included owning a smallholding and working for the NFU, where he was responsible for inspecting farms and resolving insurance issues. His reputation as a community pillar was well established, as he served as an elder at Christ Church Methodist and United Reform Chapel in Braunton, and held the position of Captain of the Boys Brigade for 18 years. Additionally, Huxtable was chair of governors at Shirwell Primary School for eight years and a governor at North Molton School for two decades. His civic duties extended to serving as clerk for the Pilton, Shirwell, and Fremington parish councils, and he was also chairman of the Dexter Cattle Group.

Despite his community contributions, Huxtable faced serious allegations. He denied four counts of indecent assault against the boy, who was aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the incidents in the mid-1970s. The court found him guilty of three of these counts, while the fourth was dismissed on the judge’s instructions. Judge Erik Salomonsen adjourned sentencing to allow for a probation report and further assessment of Huxtable’s health issues.

During the trial, the judge acknowledged the positive character references presented on Huxtable’s behalf, which highlighted his lifelong service to North Devon. The judge remarked, “We have heard from his character witnesses of the creditable life he has lived over many years.” He also noted that the maximum sentence for the crimes could be ten years, but emphasized that sentencing would be guided by current legal guidelines. Huxtable was reminded that he had lived with this secret for many years and that he initially denied the allegations, although he had acknowledged some sexual activity of a lesser nature during police interviews.

The court also heard that the victim had been subjected to more serious abuse by an older youth in the same village, who has since passed away. The judge ordered police to prepare a victim impact statement to help distinguish the psychological damage caused by Huxtable from other factors.

The trial lasted three days, during which the jury learned that Huxtable operated a youth club for local teenagers in the early 1970s. The victim recounted that Huxtable exposed himself to him while they were cleaning the cowshed and that the abuse continued with repeated touching both there and in Huxtable’s van. The boy also revealed that he was abused again five or six years later when he visited the NFU offices to arrange car insurance. He explained why he had not reported the abuse earlier, stating, “It is hard for people to understand it now, but things were different then. The discipline and everything were different. If I had told my father he would probably have hit me for telling tales.”

Huxtable claimed that his only sexual contact was in the cowshed and that it was initiated by the boy, which he rejected. He also denied abusing the boy in his van, asserting that he needed both hands on the wheel to navigate the winding lanes around his farm. Huxtable explained that his police interview admissions were the result of being pressured by detectives and not reflective of his true actions. The court will determine his sentence at a later date, but the case has already cast a long shadow over his once-respected reputation in Barnstaple and North Devon.