Christopher Welch – Devon

A rapist & paedophile from Devon has been sentenced to a total of 26 years for despicable crimes relating to women and children spanning three decades.

Christopher Welch, aged 66 of Westlands, Wrafton in Braunton, was convicted at Exeter Crown Court on 25th February of four counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and one count of indecent assault against a woman.

Welch was also 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.

He appeared before court again today, Thursday 2 April, where he was handed a 26-year sentence, with three years on licence.

As part of the sentence, Welch has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The court heard how the offences were committed against three children and two women on multiple occasions in the 80s, 90s and 00s in Devon.