Devon & Cornwall Police News site

A man has been jailed for 19 years after being found guilty of serious sexual offences against a vulnerable victim.

Lee Sharp, aged 42, appeared at Exeter Crown Court, where the judge also sentenced him to six years on extended license and granted a restraining order.

Sharp, of Easterly Terrace, Sticklepath, 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, and he was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday 30 September.

The court heard that Sharp had sexually abused the victim when she was a teenager, knowing that she was under the age of consent and had told her to keep quiet about what had happened.

He raped her as an adult, being physically and emotionally abusive, this included physically restraining her, and spitting in her face. He also repeatedly referred to her as things such as ‘scum of the earth’ and told her ‘nobody would want you’.

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.

Support available.

If you are a victim of child abuse, or worried for the safety or wellbeing of a child, find out below all the different ways you can get in touch. Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure, please report your concerns. Your information could help our trained officers and staff protect the child.

The best ways to get in touch

If you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999 now. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.

If it isn’t an emergency, please get in touch in any of these other ways:

• call our non-emergency, 24/7 number: 101. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101
• visit a police station to speak to an officer in person
• contact the NSPCC to speak to a professional practitioner
• contact the children's social care team at your local council
• contact Fearless confidentially and anonymously

If you’re a child, you could also speak to someone you trust, like a friend, a teacher or another adult.

If you’re a professional working with children, remember you have a responsibility to refer your concerns to Children’s Social Care through your local council.

What happens after you report it to us?

Uniformed officers may take an initial report, after which specialist detectives may investigate. They'll explain in detail what will happen next.

Neither you or the child will be forced to do anything you're not comfortable with. However we will always take action if we think a child is at risk of further harm.