In May 2022, two 13-year-old schoolgirls were drinking with a group of street drinkers near Exeter Cathedral when they ended up at a flat occupied by Paul Bamford, father of the offender Clay Bamford. The girls, who had been consuming alcohol, were vulnerable due to their age and intoxication. Bamford, aged 22 at the time of sentencing, arrived at the flat and continued drinking with the group before committing the assaults.
Bamford raped one of the girls under a duvet on the floor, ignoring her clear indications that she did not want sex. During the rape, the victim dissociated herself and watched TikTok videos on her phone to cope with the trauma. He also sexually assaulted the second girl by putting his hands inside her clothing. The second victim was so terrified that she considered jumping from the first-floor balcony but stayed to remain with her friend.
The assaults had devastating long-term effects on the victims. The rape victim attempted to take her own life and continues to receive counselling nearly two years later. She stated: 'I used to be happy, confident and not bothered by anything. Now I am empty and dark. I would like to see him suffer behind bars in the way he has made me suffer.' The second victim reported ongoing nightmares and flashbacks.
Bamford, of King Arthur’s Road, Exeter, denied the charges of rape, assault by penetration, and sexual assault. He was found guilty by a jury at Exeter Crown Court in December 2023. At sentencing, Judge Stephen Climie described the girls as vulnerable, both psychologically and physically, and noted that Bamford took advantage of their age, vulnerability, and alcohol consumption. The judge said: 'These two girls were vulnerable, at least psychologically, and certainly physically when it came to the prospect of what took place at your hands. It must have been apparent they were just 13 but despite that you took advantage of their age, their vulnerability and their use of alcohol.'
Prosecutor Miss Heather Hope outlined how the incident unfolded after the girls met the drinking group on the streets of Exeter. In defence, Mr Joss Ticehurst argued that Bamford had not planned the assaults or encouraged the girls' drinking, but rather found himself in the situation by chance at his father's flat. He claimed: 'He was not a predator but took advantage of a situation in which he found himself.' Ticehurst also highlighted Bamford's difficult childhood, including being taken into care at 13 months old, and noted that he had no prior history of sexual offending apart from an exposure incident that occurred as a response to police interaction.
Bamford's criminal background included a recent release from jail for a street attack in Exeter and being on bail for assaulting a fellow inmate during his previous sentence. He was also due in court the day after the assaults for exposing himself to a policeman. The case was reported by Devon Live, with court reporting by Ted Davenport, based on proceedings at Exeter Crown Court.