Man sentenced over indecent assaults in North Devon
The offences date back to the late 1990s and early 2000s in the Bideford area
Clint Barnes, a 56-year-old from Morecambe, was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for three years, after being convicted of three indecent assaults in North Devon.
Barnes appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentencing.
The offences date back to the late 1990s and early 2000s in the Bideford area and were reported in 2022 by the victim.
The victim disclosed the assaults during a hospital visit, describing repeated abuse by Barnes, including sexual touching over clothing and unwanted remarks.
In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Barnes was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work, fulfil a rehabilitation activity requirement, and pay £2,500 in compensation.
Barnes must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next 10 years.
Detective Constable Kerry Mitchell, officer in the case, acknowledged the victim's courage in coming forward.
Mitchell said this case highlights that victims of unwanted sexual touching will be believed, regardless of the time elapsed since the incidents.
She said: “I would like to thank the victim for his immense courage in reporting this to us and remaining engaged during the court process.
“While this conviction may not have resulted in an immediate custodial sentence, it still goes to show that victims of unwanted sexual touching will be believed when reporting abuse to us, regardless of how much time has passed since the incidents.”
Support links
There is support available if you are impacted by what you have read.
You can visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system.
You can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
The National Rape Crisis Helpline can be reached on 0808 802 9999 and the Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) on 0300 3034626.
And there is more information on the Devon and Cornwall Police website.