SEAN DEVITT'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BURNLEY AND PRESTON: PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES
In a series of disturbing criminal cases, Sean Devitt, a man with connections to Burnley and Blackburn, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offences involving minors.His actions have shocked the local communities and prompted a stern judicial response.
In May 2017, Preston Crown Court sentenced Devitt to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, along with one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice through a phone call from prison.
The court heard that Devitt, then 34 years old, had a history of sexual offences and was already serving a six-year sentence for similar crimes involving another underage girl when the latest allegations emerged.
The case centered around a teenage girl who was in a relationship with Devitt.
The prosecutor, Lisa Worsley, detailed how the grooming process began when Devitt, who did not have a fixed address but was previously known to reside in Burnley and Blackburn, would give the girl cannabis.
This substance was used as a tool to manipulate and control her.
The court was told that after both smoked cannabis together, the pair shared a kiss, marking the start of a sexual relationship that would develop further despite the significant age difference and Devitt’s awareness of her youth.
Devitt would meet the girl after school hours, often walking her to a furniture store where they would sometimes have sex upstairs.
The victim’s mother grew suspicious of the relationship, which led to frequent arguments within the family.
These tensions eventually forced the girl to leave her family home to escape the situation.
The court also heard that Devitt filmed himself having sex with the girl, with her consent, but the relationship faced a turning point when she discovered he had a sexually transmitted disease.
The relationship ultimately ended when the girl found a video of a child on Devitt’s SD card, which was a significant and disturbing discovery.
Following this, Devitt made a phone call from prison to his mother, attempting to persuade her to threaten the girl if she did not withdraw her police complaints.
The victim, in a victim impact statement read aloud in court, described how Devitt’s manipulative behavior had devastated her life.
She expressed feelings of betrayal, stating that Devitt had controlled her and cut her off from her family, leaving her with deep trust issues and difficulty forming relationships, especially with men.
Devitt’s criminal history includes an earlier conviction in January 2014, when he was sentenced to eight years in prison for grooming a teenage girl.
During that case, he was found to have supplied the girl with alcohol and cigarettes, engaged in sexual acts, and manipulated her emotionally.
Despite being cautioned for previous misconduct, Devitt continued his inappropriate behavior, which was uncovered when police set up listening devices.
He initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming the girl was fabricating the allegations, but later confessed to seven sexual offences on the day of his trial.
The court emphasized the seriousness of Devitt’s repeated offending, especially given that his misconduct persisted even after being cautioned.
Judge Andrew Woolman imposed a lengthy sentence, including an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a ban on any contact with the victim.
The judge acknowledged Devitt’s guilty plea as a mitigating factor but underscored the gravity of his actions, which have left lasting scars on the victims involved.
These cases highlight the disturbing pattern of Devitt’s predatory behavior in Burnley and Preston, raising ongoing concerns about safeguarding minors and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable individuals from such manipulative offenders.
