Grimsby man jailed for sexually assaulting girl in East Devon
James Briggs, 42, has now been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison following the incident in 2023
Last updated 17 hours ago
A man from Grimsby has been jailed after supplying a group of girls with drugs before sexually assaulting one of them in Devon.
James Briggs, 42, of Coniston Avenue was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court on 6 July 2026 of sexual assault on a child under 13.
Briggs had previously admitted six counts of offering to supply and supplying a controlled class B drug - Ketamine.
The court heard the sexual assault against the girl happened in East Devon in 2023 and Briggs was arrested and his mobile phone seized after the victim bravely reported the incident to the police.
An examination of his phone showed that Briggs had recently purchased Ketamine and videos showed children being under the influence of drugs.
During police interviews, Briggs stated he had been speaking with the girl in relation to her mental health issues and she had become upset but denied any sexual offending.
On 17 July 2026, Briggs was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.
He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and made subject to a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
DC Jonathan Stephens of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We welcome the outcome and would like to acknowledge the courage shown by the victim and other child witnesses in this case.
"We ask anybody who has been the victim of child sexual abuse to report it, whether it be recent or non-recent, and we will investigate each matter thoroughly”