RODNEY HOWLISTON FROM STOKEINTEIGNHEAD JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN TEIGNBRIDGE

In October 2017, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse culminated in the conviction and sentencing of Rodney Howliston, a resident of Stokeinteignhead near Teignmouth. The court heard how Howliston, a gardener by profession, engaged in a prolonged and heinous pattern of grooming and abusing a young girl over a span of several years.

According to court records, the abuse began when the girl was just six years old. Howliston systematically groomed her by offering small gifts and occasional monetary incentives, creating a false sense of trust and affection. Over the course of five years, he repeatedly subjected her to sexual assault, including acts of oral rape when she was only 11 years old. The victim, overwhelmed by confusion and trauma, did not disclose her ordeal until she was 14 years old.

The girl finally confided in a relative through a Facebook message, but it was only after she disclosed her experiences to a school friend, a youth club worker, and ultimately a teacher that the full extent of her suffering was revealed. The details of her abuse painted a disturbing picture of manipulation and exploitation by Howliston.

During the trial at Exeter Crown Court, Howliston denied any wrongdoing, claiming that no abuse occurred in his van or during the times he babysat the girl when her mother was unwell or away from the family home in Teignbridge. However, the jury rejected his claims, finding him guilty of multiple serious sexual offences against a child. The court heard that Howliston had a prior conviction from 1992 for a serious sexual offence involving a child, for which he served two years in prison.

At 65 years old, Howliston faced a range of charges, including oral rape of a child under 13, five counts of assault by penetration, and inciting a child to participate in sexual activity. The judge, Recorder Malcolm Gibney, sentenced him to 12 years in prison, with an additional one-year extended license period. Furthermore, Howliston was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

In his sentencing remarks, Recorder Gibney emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “It is clear the victim looked up to you. You abused that trust and took advantage of her. She was a naive and trusting child, and you encouraged her not to reveal what was going on. You occasionally gave her small amounts of money and subjected her to what could be called grooming for abuse. It clearly left an impact on her, so it was a number of years before she was able to reveal what you had done.”

He further condemned Howliston’s actions, highlighting that the victim was a vulnerable and damaged young woman, and that Howliston’s attempts to deny the abuse and accuse her of lying only worsened her suffering. The judge noted, “You made her relive her ordeal in front of a jury by contesting this case. You besmirched her character by accusing her of lying and being an attention seeker.”

The court also recognized the increased culpability due to Howliston’s grooming behavior, which demonstrated a clear motivation driven by sexual gratification. The judge concluded that Howliston posed a significant risk of reoffending, especially against female children, given the nature of his crimes and the vulnerability of his victim.

During the four-day trial, the victim recounted how the abuse took place in the 2000s and early 2010s. She described how the abuse started when she was just six years old, with one of the first assaults occurring in Howliston’s van after he offered to take her out to work with him. She explained that he put his hand into her underwear and warned her not to wear any if she went in his van again, illustrating the disturbing tactics he used to manipulate her at such a young age.