Colin Dance

Convicted sex offender Colin Dance has been jailed for seven-and-half years after being found guilty of carrying out a catalogue of historic sex abuse against an underage girl.

Dance, 60, of Roseway, Littleham, was jailed in April at Exeter Crown Court, but a press ban imposed by the court meant the Journal has been prohibited from publishing any details of the trial until now.

The court heard that driver Dance - who denied all the charges - groomed his young victim from the age of six .

A jury found Dance guilty of six counts of committing gross indecency with a child between February 1974 and February 1980, when he forced his young victim to perform sex acts.

He was also found guilty of one act of indecent assault on a child under the age of 14, between February 1974 and February 1980, when Dance forced himself upon the terrified youngster, committing a serious sex act.

For a full report of the trial, see next Thursday’s Exmouth Journal.