Lester Hartnell, a 79-year-old pensioner from Exmouth, Devon, has been sentenced to six years in prison for committing historic sexual offences against two children in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At the time of the abuses, Hartnell was in his late 20s and early 30s and held a position of respect within his community. The offences came to light nearly 50 years later when the two victims, who had suffered in silence, discovered each other's experiences and reported the crimes to the police in 2017.
The victims, a girl and a boy, endured profound and lasting emotional trauma as a result of Hartnell's actions. The female victim, now a middle-aged woman, described in her victim personal statement how the abuse blighted her childhood, leading to withdrawal, bullying at school, and ongoing wariness of men. She stated: 'I knew what he was doing was wrong but I was powerless to stop it. I don't think he ever realised how frightened I was. The morning after I would be sick because I felt so ashamed and guilty. It has made me less confident in life and held me back. I have re-lived it many times throughout my life and it has never completely gone away.' The male victim, now in his 50s, recounted how the abuse caused him trouble at school, instilled strong homophobic feelings he still struggles with, and left him feeling embarrassed and ashamed. He remarked: 'I was scared that as a child, nobody would believe me. ... He will get a limited sentence today, but for me it is a life sentence. It always has been and always will be.'
Hartnell admitted to two counts of indecent assault against the girl and four counts of indecency or indecent assault against the boy during police interviews, though he claimed little memory of the assaults on the boy. Following the final offence, he married shortly afterwards and lived a law-abiding life, keeping his past secret from his wife and children. He became a valued member of his church congregation and worked hard for nearly 50 years. His defence, represented by Miss Kelly Scrivener, highlighted that Hartnell himself had been a victim of abuse as a child, which contributed to him losing control during that period. She noted his genuine shame, describing his actions as 'abhorrent', and mentioned his poor health, including past treatment for cancer and a recent diagnosis of skin cancer.
At Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans imposed the six-year custodial sentence with a one-year extended licence period. The judge addressed Hartnell directly, stating: 'It is clear from the victim personal statements that you have radically altered the course of their lives and your abuse has profoundly overshadowed their existence since then. You kept silent and continued to live your life, respected and beloved by those around you didn't know any better, while the victims continued suffering in silence. It is often difficult for the victims to speak out, even as an adult, when the abuser is as well regarded as you turned out to be. It was always open to you to tell the truth.' The sentencing underscores that justice can be pursued for historic child sexual abuse cases, no matter how much time has passed.
This case was reported by Devon Live on 31 October 2019, based on proceedings at Exeter Crown Court. The NSPCC welcomed the outcome, emphasising the importance of survivors speaking out.