Devon and Cornwall Police detectives have welcomed the sentencing today of a 46-year-old Liskeard man for a series of sexual offences, committed between 2006 and 2015.

Adrian Richard Jewell, of Joan Moffat Close in Liskeard, was given a 19-year sentence at Exeter Crown Court for five rapes, two sexual assaults and voyeurism.

His victims, three girls, were aged between 12 and 18 at the time of the offences, which took place in their homes in North Devon.

The officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Nick Rowell, said: ’I hope this sentence allows the three victims to finally move forward with their lives. It is ten years since the first victim came forward and sadly, due to a lack of evidence at the time, the investigation did not reach a court room.

’It is only now, after that victim has lived with the horrendous crimes for so long that further evidence from two more victims has led to these convictions. I can only praise the bravery of each of the three victims for coming forward.

’The police work closely with Crown Prosecution Service to ensure we are doing all we can to bring offenders to justice and help victims recover from the terrible impact of these crimes.’

Detective Constable Rochelle Andrews, a sexual offences liaison officer with Devon and Cornwall Police, said: ’Having supported the youngest victim through this entire investigation I hope that the result gives other victims of sexual abuse the confidence to know that if they do come forward they will be believed, treated fairly and justice will be served. We will listen.’

Advice about reporting rape or sexual abuse to the police, or to a third party organisation, can be found on the Devon and Cornwall Police website: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/threat-assault-abuse/rape-sexual-assault/