In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that 33-year-old Adam Skinner—of Sandford Walk, Exeter—was jailed for over two years for a violent and random sexual attack on a 19-year-old girl. Skinner appeared at Exeter Crown Court where he was sentenced for an assault that occurred in the early hours of 3 August 2018 at the Fever and Boutique nightclub. The investigation established that Skinner, who did not know the victim, targeted her on the dance floor, pulling her towards him and putting his hand up her skirt.
The investigation established that the assault was so forceful that the victim fell to the floor as she tried to escape Skinner’s grasp. The prosecution reported that after the sexual assault, Skinner turned his violence toward the venue’s door staff, punching one female bouncer in the face and attempting to spit at and bite another as they tried to escort him out. Exeter Crown Court heard that Skinner had consumed a large quantity of alcohol and cocaine, claiming to have little memory of the event until shown CCTV footage by the police.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the victim was left profoundly traumatised, suffering from depression and anxiety that forced her to sleep in her mother’s bed for several days following the attack. The investigation established that Skinner’s refusal to admit the full extent of the assault forced the survivor to give evidence at trial, an experience she described as the worst day of her life. The prosecution reported that Judge David Evans noted the harm caused was undoubtedly significant, stating that Skinner had not only ruined the victim’s night but had ruined her life since.
Judge-led proceedings at Exeter Crown Court concluded with Skinner being sentenced to two years and four months in prison. For his actions in Exeter and the “devastating” impact on the young victim reported, he was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. The judge emphasized that the random nature of the attack on a girl who had only visited a nightclub once before made the offence particularly grave, resulting in an immediate custodial sentence despite Skinner’s claims of remorse after seeing the CCTV.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Devon and the South West, the status of Adam Skinner as of April 11, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED ON LICENCE (Sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in 2019; served custodial term and licence; currently residing in the community).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2029 (Standard 10-year period for this sentence length).
- SHPO Status: Active until 2029 (Including strict bans on entering licensed premises in Exeter and total prohibitions on contacting the victim).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children or vulnerable adults; flagged for violence against women).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Assault by penetration; Assault by battery x2).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court; investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police.
- Criminal Record: Randomly attacked a 19-year-old on a dance floor; Punched a female bouncer in the face; Spat at and bit security staff; Combined cocaine and alcohol prior to the attack.
- Origin: Exeter, Devon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Skinner is managed as a registered sex offender within the Exeter area. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “unprovoked violence toward women and his use of illegal substances as a disinhibitor”—his management is a priority for the Devon and Cornwall Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history identifies him as an individual who poses a significant risk to women in social environments, requiring statutory oversight of his movements and strict adherence to alcohol and drug-related conditions.
As a registered sex offender until 2029, the 40-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that the CCTV evidence was vital in securing a conviction against a man who attempted to minimise his “predatory” behaviour. Any failure to report his address, any further incidents of violence in public spaces, or any unauthorised proximity to the victim will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who demonstrated a persistent and brutal intent.
QUESTION – Given that the offender blamed his actions on a mixture of cocaine and alcohol to minimise his guilt, do you believe that “Voluntary Intoxication” should be legally excluded as a mitigating factor and instead be treated as a statutory aggravating factor in sexual assault cases?
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