In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Geoffrey Perryman, then 88, of Kings Meadow Court, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, was jailed for the sexual abuse of five boys during the 1960s and 1970s. On appearing at Exeter Crown Court in 2019, it was reported that the former teacher had used his positions at Exmouth Community College to target victims aged 11 to 14. The court reported that Perryman, who taught music and sports and managed an outdoor pursuits centre, admitted to 11 counts of indecent assault or indecency.
The investigation established that Perryman abused the boys in his office and at Huccombe House, near Beesands, Devon, where he forced them to share a bed with him. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that the defendant also joined boys in the showers after lessons. The prosecution reported that victims known as his “playmates” suffered further trauma by being bullied and shunned by other pupils in Exmouth, Devon.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Perryman’s high culpability and gross abuse of trust caused “permanent emotional and psychological damage” to his victims. Exeter Crown Court heard how the survivors did not dare report the abuse for decades, and the one victim who did tell his parents at the time was not believed. The prosecution reported that all five victims in the 2019 case contacted police only after reading about Perryman’s previous 2018 conviction at Gloucester Crown Court for similar offences against four other boys.
Judge David Evans noted that it had taken a long time for justice to be served for the “worst forms of abuse possible.” For his actions in Exmouth and Beesands, Devon, Perryman was sentenced to four years and four months in prison. The judge noted that the defendant, who appeared via video link from HMP Ashfield, would remain incarcerated, as the new term began just 17 days before he was due to be released for his previous crimes in Gloucester, Gloucestershire.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Geoffrey Perryman was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Four years and four months (2019) to run consecutively to his previous term.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court following 11 guilty pleas.
- Criminal Record: Multiple convictions for indecent assault and indecency with children.
- Origin: Kings Meadow Court, Gloucester (Offences in Exmouth and Beesands, Devon).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Perryman is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Gloucestershire Constabulary, Devon and Cornwall Police, and the prison estate. Due to the “permanent damage” he inflicted on nine known victims across two separate trials in Exmouth, Beesands, and Gloucester, his management is subject to high-level oversight by the National Probation Service.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Perryman must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of utilizing his role as a teacher and sports coach to facilitate sexual abuse necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct. Any further sexual misconduct or attempt to contact survivors in Exmouth, Gloucester, or elsewhere will result in immediate legal action and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.