POLICE who investigated Phillip Walton's sex abuse were delighted with the jury's verdicts

Outside the courtroom, police officer DC Pete Stephens said Walton was 'a predatory paedophile and the 18-year sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending'.

DC Stephens said the investigating team was delighted with the outcome of the trial and for the girls, their friends and families, who he hoped now had closure on their ordeal.

He said it had been a long inquiry, going back three years and involving various officers, including DC Steve Pengelly, who has now retired, and sexual offences liaison officer Jo Pengelly.

He said: 'It was a real team effort by officers based at Kingsbridge and Totnes police stations.'