SAM PROWSE FROM BARNSTAPLE AND BRIDGWATER IN EXMOUTH AND PLYMOUTH: HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE REVEALED

In a series of disturbing criminal cases spanning several years, Sam Prowse, a man with connections to Barnstaple, Bridgwater, and Exmouth, has been convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse and violence. His criminal activities have left a trail of trauma and heartbreak among his victims and their families.

In December 2017, Prowse was released from custody and was reported to be residing in a bail hostel in Plymouth. Despite his release, he was seen visiting innocent family members in Exmouth, raising concerns about his ongoing presence in the community and the potential risk he poses.

Earlier, in September 2014, Prowse was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl. The assault involved months of repeated abuse while he was babysitting at her mother’s home in Barnstaple. The victim, who was just eight years old at the time, was so frightened by Prowse’s actions that she was unable to confide in her mother until she encountered him unexpectedly at Exeter St David’s Railway Station in December 2011.

The court heard that Prowse had groomed the young girl by offering her toys and gifts, including dolls and fairy cut-outs, to manipulate her into compliance. He also physically assaulted her during these encounters. The judge, Judge Phillip Wassall, described the impact of the abuse, noting that the girl had been transformed from a sweet, trusting child into someone who struggled to relate to her peers and exhibited spiteful behavior. The court was told that the girl now receives counseling to cope with the psychological harm inflicted upon her.

During the trial, the victim, now aged 12, recounted how Prowse sexually assaulted her four years earlier, and how her fear prevented her from revealing the truth at the time. Her mother’s victim impact statement revealed the profound effect of the abuse, expressing her guilt and regret for allowing Prowse access to her daughter. She described her daughter as a trusting and innocent child who was manipulated into silence by Prowse’s grooming tactics.

In August 2014, Prowse was ordered to undergo a risk assessment to determine the danger he might pose to others. This came after evidence of his repeated sexual assaults on the same girl in Barnstaple in 2010, when he was 25 years old. The assaults included touching her inappropriately while they watched television and during activities like making fairy cut-outs. Prowse had also offered to buy her dolls if she performed sexual acts, further demonstrating his manipulative behavior.

Despite the guilty verdicts, Prowse denied all allegations, dismissing them as “nuts,” and claimed that he hated paedophiles and would never harm a child. His defense argued that his mental health issues, including psychosis caused by heavy cannabis use, contributed to his behavior. At the time of sentencing, Prowse was living at Grebe Court in Bridgwater, Somerset, and was reported to be in a relationship with a partner who was expecting his child.

Further back, in June 2014, Prowse was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a child under 13 and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The incidents involved him grooming an eight-year-old girl in Barnstaple, promising her gifts in exchange for sexual acts. The girl, who was left so terrified that she could not tell anyone until she saw him again at Exeter St David’s Railway Station in 2011, recounted how Prowse had touched her and tried to coerce her into sex during their time together.

In addition to his sexual offenses, Prowse has a history of violence. In June 2011, he was convicted of assaulting a woman twice—once punching her in the face, causing a swollen eye, and another time hitting her around the head multiple times after throwing objects at her. He was acquitted of a third charge of throttling her.

Throughout these proceedings, Prowse has maintained his innocence, denying all allegations and describing them as unfounded. His criminal record includes over 20 offenses, many involving violence, which underscores the pattern of his behavior. The courts continue to evaluate the risks he poses to the community, with future sentencing and monitoring measures under consideration to prevent further harm.