Man jailed for 19 years for decade of abuse

A man has been jailed for 19 years for the historic abuse of two young girls.

Christopher De Burton, 67, of Thurlow Road, Torquay, was convicted of 14 charges including rape and sexual assault after a trial in December.

One of his victims told Exeter Crown Court she constantly had to relive the abuse she suffered and it left her wary of men and unable to trust anyone.

Judge David Evans said De Burton had acted with "calculating slyness" and praised the bravery of the victims in coming forward to give evidence.

He was convicted of indecency with a child, three rapes of a child under 13, eight sexual assaults of a child under 13 and twice causing a child to watch a sexual act - with the offences taking place between 2001 and 2011.

During the trial, the court heard De Burton raped and abused the girl on a number of occasions at a variety of locations across Devon.

The abuse finally stopped when the she was 12.

The other victim was a friend of hers and De Burton showed them pornography.

Det Sgt John Friskey, from Devon and Cornwall Police, described De Burton as a dangerous sexual offender.

He said: "I would like to thank the victims in this case for their immense strength and courage and helping to ensure that De Burton is now serving another sentence behind bars.

"We will continue to thoroughly investigate all sexual offences reported to us, regardless of when the abuse took place."

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