Christopher Welch

Christopher Welch, a 66-year-old man from Westlands, Wrafton in Braunton, Devon, was convicted at Exeter Crown Court on 25 February of a series of despicable sexual crimes committed against women and children spanning the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

The court heard evidence of offences against three children and two women, occurring on multiple occasions in Devon. Welch was found guilty of four counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration, and one count of indecent assault against a woman. Additionally, he was convicted of four counts of indecent assault against children, two counts of indecency with a child, and one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration. He was also found guilty of indecent assault against another woman.

On 2 April, Welch appeared before the court again and was sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment, with an extended three years on licence. As part of the sentence, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The prosecution, led by Devon and Cornwall Police, praised the victims for their courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

One victim's powerful personal statement, read out in court, highlighted the profound impact of Welch's actions: 'The impact this man has had is irreversible and I carry the weight of what he did to me every day in the life not lived… Take as many years from him as he did from me.' The victim expressed gratitude to the police, support worker, court, jury, and judge for their efforts in achieving what they described as a just outcome.

Detective Constable Kerry Mitchell of Devon and Cornwall Police described Welch as 'a vile human being and a dangerous sexual predator', welcoming the sentence and hoping it would reassure the victims and the public that he is now behind bars. The case underscores the long-term commitment of Devon and Cornwall Police to investigating historical sexual abuse offences thoroughly.