JAILED | Man guilty of sexual offence
A man who plied a group of girls with drugs before sexually assaulting one of them has been jailed for four years and nine months.
James Briggs, aged 42 of Coniston Avenue, Grimsby, was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court on 6 July 2026 of sexual assault on a child under 13.
Briggs had also previously pleaded guilty to six counts of offering to supply and supplying a controlled class B drug - Ketamine.
The court heard how Briggs had sexually assaulted the girl in East Devon in 2023.
The girl bravely came forward to police to report the incident which resulted in Briggs being arrested and his mobile phone seized.
Examination of his phone showed that Briggs had recently purchased Ketamine and videos evidenced children being under the influence of drugs.
In interview, Briggs stated he had been speaking with the girl in relation to her mental health issues and she had become upset. He denied sexual offending.
Briggs was sentenced on Friday 17 July 2026 and was given a prison sentence of four years and nine months, was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and made subject to a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The officer in case DC Jonathan Stephens said: “We welcome the outcome and would like to acknowledge the courage shown by the victim and other child witnesses in this case. We ask anybody who has been the victim of child sexual abuse to report it, whether it be recent or non-recent, and we will investigate each matter thoroughly”
Support available
If you have been affected by this article there is support available.
You can visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system.
You can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
Advice and support can also be found at:
National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626
For more information please visit: www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault
Child sex offence cases
If you suspect a child is in immediate danger from sexual abuse or exploitation, call 999 now. If it’s not an emergency please use the “Report” button on our website www.devon-cornwall.police.uk or call 101.
You can report child sexual abuse anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
The Stop It Now charity provides an anonymous helpline for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse and can help if you are worried about your own thoughts, feelings or behaviour, or have any concerns about another adult or young person www.stopitnow.org.uk
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