Man from Devon jailed for sexually abusing girls in Devon and Sussex

A man named Jack Nepean, aged 30, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing two young girls. Nepean, who resided in Devon, received his sentence at Hove Crown Court after pleading guilty to 17 charges.

The court learned that Nepean sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl under his care in Crawley, West Sussex, on New Year's Eve 2022, and a five-year-old girl at his address in Devon. In addition to his prison term, Nepean will serve seven years on licence and has been given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his contact with children and electronic devices.

Police began investigating in January 2023, with Devon and Cornwall officers uncovering more offenses through Nepean's mobile phone. The charges he admitted to include sexual assault, making indecent images, three counts of voyeurism, and three counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Detective Inspector Iain MacNab of Sussex Police condemned Nepean's actions as a betrayal of trust, highlighting the bravery of the child who reported the abuse. The impact on the victim and her family was described as devastating.

Detective Constable Pete White and Detective Inspector Becky Davies from the Devon & Cornwall Police Public Protection Unit praised the victims and their families for their courage in supporting the investigations. They emphasized the importance of the victims coming forward and hoped that the sentencing would provide them with some closure.