In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Lester Hartnell, 79, was jailed for six years for the sexual abuse of two children committed five decades ago. On appearing at Exeter Crown Court, the defendant—of Liverton Close, Exmouth—admitted to six counts of indecent assault and indecency. It was reported that Hartnell, a respected churchgoer and grandfather, had kept his “dark” past a secret for nearly 50 years until his two victims, a girl and a boy, discovered their shared trauma and alerted the police in 2017.
The investigation established the long-term emotional turmoil inflicted on the victims in Budleigh Salterton and Ottery St Mary. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that Hartnell abused a nine-year-old girl in her bedroom during the late 1960s and targeted an 11-year-old boy in 1972, forcing him to perform sexual acts. The prosecution reported that the abuse blighted the victims’ childhoods, leading to school bullying, alcohol issues, and a lifelong struggle with shame and guilt. The investigation established that while Hartnell lived a law-abiding life and married shortly after his final offence, his victims continued to suffer in silence.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Hartnell’s respected status in his local church made it even more difficult for his victims to speak out. Exeter Crown Court heard that the female survivor would be physically sick with shame the morning after the abuse, while the male survivor described his experience as a life sentence of trauma. The investigation established that Hartnell admitted the offences when interviewed, claiming he had lost control of his life during that period, though he also stated he had little memory of the specific acts against the boy.
Judge David Evans noted that Hartnell had radically altered the course of his victims’ lives, overshadowing their existence for half a century. For his actions in East Devon, Hartnell was handed a six-year custodial sentence with an additional one-year extended licence. The judge noted that while Hartnell was well-regarded by those who didn’t know his true nature, it was always open to him to tell the truth rather than allowing his victims to carry the burden of his crimes alone.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Lester Hartnell is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 6 years (Sentenced 2019).
- Extended Licence: 1 year.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court following a Devon and Cornwall Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Indecent assault (multiple counts); Indecency with a child.
- Origin: Liverton Close, Exmouth, Devon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Hartnell is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at a high level of scrutiny in Devon. Due to the nature of his conduct in Budleigh Salterton and Ottery St Mary, which involved the grooming and abuse of children in domestic settings, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his lifetime registration on the Sex Offenders Register ensures that his movements and residence are monitored indefinitely, even given his advanced age and health issues.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Hartnell must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of hiding his predatory behavior behind a respectable churchgoing persona in Exmouth necessitates continued vigilance by local offender management teams. Any future attempt to approach a minor or fail to disclose his location to the authorities will result in immediate arrest and a return to the prison system.
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