RICKY TODD FROM SILVERTON AND EXETER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In August 2018, Ricky Todd, a man originally from Tiverton and residing in Silverton, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl. The incident came to light after Todd initiated contact with the young girl via Facebook, just hours before the assault took place.

According to court proceedings, Todd first made contact with the girl on Facebook, and within a remarkably short span of 82 minutes, he invited her to his home. The girl, who was known to be truant from school at the time, accepted his invitation and traveled to his bedsit. During their time together, Todd offered her alcohol and drugs, including lager, cannabis, cocaine, and ecstasy tablets, which he administered to her in an apparent attempt to lower her inhibitions.

Over the course of the 24 hours she spent at his residence, Todd repeatedly engaged in sexual acts with the girl. The court heard that he took advantage of her vulnerability, knowing she was in care and thus particularly susceptible to exploitation. The following morning, Todd expelled her from his home, citing that his two young children were due to visit him, and he wanted to avoid any suspicion.

The victim, who was in care and considered highly vulnerable, did not disclose what had happened until several weeks later. During the trial, Todd denied any involvement, claiming he was at work on a building site during the time of the incident. However, police investigations revealed that his employers confirmed he had been off work for those two days, contradicting his alibi.

At Exeter Crown Court, Todd, aged 27 and residing in Silverton, was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a child after a trial. The court heard evidence including Facebook messages and text exchanges in which Todd directed the girl to meet him at Henry’s Bar in Exeter, a location close to his shared house. Witnesses, including a friend who visited him, identified the girl in his room and also recognized Todd in an identification parade.

During the trial, Todd attempted to defend himself by claiming that he was the victim of a setup, alleging that someone had stolen his phone and sent the incriminating messages while pretending to be him. The court dismissed this defense as baseless, with the judge, David Evans, describing it as absurd.

Judge Evans sentenced Todd to a total of five years imprisonment, with the stipulation that he would serve half of that term. The judge emphasized the severity of Todd’s actions, stating, “She bunked off school and came to Exeter because you encouraged her. The quantity of drugs you persuaded the girl to take, knowing she was vulnerable, was excessive. By the time you had sex with her, she was already under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and any chance of her thinking twice about what was happening was lost. There was only one reason that you wanted that 13-year-old girl with you, and that was for sex.”

Throughout the five-day trial, the jury reviewed Facebook messages and texts that clearly demonstrated Todd’s intent to meet the girl at Henry’s Bar in Exeter. The case also included evidence from a friend who saw the girl in Todd’s room and identified him in an ID parade. Following his conviction, the judge ordered Todd to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the protection of the community.