'Calculating rapist' jailed for child sex abuse

A man who used paganism and chocolate to help him sexually abuse and rape children has been jailed.

Stephen Sanders, 62, of Raleigh Avenue, Torquay, was sentenced to 27 years in prison and told to sign the sex offenders register during a hearing at Exeter Crown Court on Wednesday.

Sanders - who also goes by the aliases Stephen Wolfe, Collins, Rice and Hubbard - was found guilty of three indecent assaults, six rapes and two indecency with a child charges which took place in the 1990s and 2000s in Exeter and other locations.

Sentencing, Judge David Evans said Sanders was "cruel and heartless" and, while monsters did not exist, the defendant "came close".

The court heard Sanders raped and abused his first victim - a girl - on a number of occasions, with his actions having a devastating impact on her.

He also used paganism, along with mentioning demons, spirits and ghosts as an excuse to abuse her.

Another victim, a boy, was given chocolate by Sanders and told the sexual abuse was their "little secret".

A third victim, a girl, was aged under 10 when she was abused by Sanders, the court heard.

Det Con Mike Smith, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said Sanders manipulated his victims for "his own twisted sexual gratification" and showed no remorse.

Mr Smith said: "Stephen Sanders is a calculating rapist and child sex offender who targeted three young victims over a number of years.

"It is thanks to their immense courage in speaking about what happened, and giving evidence in court, that Sanders is finally behind bars."

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