PHILIP WEEKS JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN BARNSTAPLE AND EXETER

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Barnstaple, Philip Weeks, a 59-year-old former refuse collector and scrap yard worker, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of heinous sexual offenses involving young children. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over a decade, with the most recent incident occurring in 2014.

Weeks was convicted at Exeter Crown Court following a jury's rejection of his denial of the charges. The jury was shown a video recording of a police interview with a five-year-old girl, who sat on the floor of a specially equipped interview room, clutching a fluffy purple doll. In this recorded testimony, she detailed the abuse she suffered at the hands of Weeks, describing in clear terms what had happened to her. Her innocence and the detailed account left little doubt about the severity of the crimes committed.

The charges against Weeks included sexual assault by penetration of the young girl in 2014, as well as two counts of indecency with another child, which took place between 1999 and 2001. The court heard that Weeks, who was then a scrap yard worker and known as a refuse collector, had spent considerable time with the family of the young girl, which provided him with opportunities to commit these offenses. The mother of the five-year-old girl, a long-standing family friend, allowed Weeks to visit her home frequently and even helped with her bath times, unaware of his sinister intentions.

It was during one of these visits in Barnstaple that the most recent assault occurred. The mother was horrified when her daughter confided in her about the incident involving sexual penetration while she was in the bath, with Weeks allegedly using a pair of spectacles during the assault. The young girl’s police interview, which was recorded on video, showed her sitting calmly with her purple doll as she recounted the traumatic event, providing a stark and heartbreaking account of her experience.

Judge Jeremy Wright, presiding over the case, sentenced Weeks to five years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, noting that such crimes can have long-lasting psychological effects on victims. He acknowledged Weeks’ age, poor health, and character, but made it clear that the gravity of his crimes warranted a significant custodial sentence. Additionally, Weeks was ordered to register as a sex offender and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will restrict his contact with children upon his release.

During the trial, the prosecution outlined that Weeks’ first known sexual misconduct occurred around 2000, when he spent considerable time with the family of a young girl and took advantage of the trust placed in him. The allegations further detailed that he went on to sexually assault the five-year-old girl in Barnstaple in 2014, an incident that shocked the local community. The mother of the girl expressed her horror and betrayal, having trusted Weeks to help with her daughter’s bath time, only to discover the abuse.

Weeks, who denied all charges, claimed that he had no sexual interest in children and that his visits to the families’ homes were innocent. He insisted that he played with the girls and gave them piggybacks, asserting that there was no sexual motivation behind his actions. He also denied the allegations of assault in the bath, stating that he only helped with bath times because the child splashed water excessively, likening her to a “tsunami.” He maintained that he stayed by the open door, within sight of the mother, and only used his spectacles for reading in the kitchen, never bringing them into the bathroom.

Despite his claims of innocence, the jury found him guilty of all charges, leading to his imprisonment. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Barnstaple, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from predators hiding behind trusted facades.