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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Devon care home abuser's sentence is cut

Devon care home abuser's sentence is cut

A residential home employee from Devon jailed for sexually abusing disabled women in his care has had jail term cut from 12-and-a-half years to four.



James Watts, from Chulmleigh, was jailed at Exeter Crown Court in November.

The 58-year-old was convicted of six offences against four physically and mentally disabled women.

The Court of Appeal ruled the verdicts were safe but said the sentence was too long.

Watts had worked as a driver at a residential home in north Devon, which cannot be identified, between 2005 and 2008.

Watts had thought he would not be caught because his victims could not communicate.

Three victims had cerebral palsy which meant they could not move unaided or stand and needed a hoist to be moved around.

Watts had been appealing to have his conviction thrown out. He had denied all the charges during his trial.


I think it is a shame that the CofA has minimised sexual abuse against physically and mentally disabled women. This was not a case of looking at photographs like Jon Venables, and yet the sentence is only 4 years, twice as much what Venables was given for a lot less. Watts not only sexually abused the very vulnerable, he also breached the trust placed in him by the patients and the authorities. I would go as far as saying that the CofA has merely added insult to injury.

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