North Devon man jailed after being found guilty for serious sexual offences

Police are giving their 'utmost praise' to a woman who has the courage to come forward

Exeter Crown Court
Author: Oliver MorganPublished 1st Oct 2024

Police are giving their 'utmost praise' to a woman who has the courage to come forward and bring an 'abhorrent' offender to justice.

Lee Sharp's been sentenced to 19 years after being found guilty of a number of serious sexual offences against a vulnerable victim.

The court heard the 42-year-old from Easterly Terrace in Sticklepath abused her, knowing she was under the age of consent, before becoming physically and emotionally abusive against her as an adult.

The judge also sentenced him to six years on extended license and granted a restraining order.

Sharp stood trail in August, where he pleaded not guilty to sexual activity with a child, coercive and controlling behaviour and rape.

The jury found him guilty on all counts.

Messages were shown in evidence that Sharp had sent, all were volatile and derogatory in nature, on one occasion he told her ‘you dog you’re going to die for this’.

Sharp was summonsed to court in 2022 and denied the offences throughout the court process but was later found guilty by a jury.

Investigating officer, Sergeant Tina Dalton said: “My utmost praise and thanks goes to the woman who had the courage to work with police to bring this offender to justice.

“Sharp abused her repeatedly and behaved in an abhorrent way. We welcome the sentence passed by the judge and I hope that the survivor can find some closure in the outcome.

“I hope that the outcome today will give others, who may have been victims of these types of crimes, the confidence to come forward and report it.

“No matter what time has passed, or the circumstances, we will listen, and you will be heard.

There is help and support available.

If you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999 now.

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use the police's textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.

You can also contact Fearless confidentially and anonymously, or the NSPCC.

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