In 2010, the Offender Database reported that Adrian ‘Tommy’ Dance, then in his 60s, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, was sentenced to 21 and a half years at Exeter Crown Court. The charity fundraiser admitted to a “reprehensible” campaign of sexual violence involving five young girls, with offences spanning from the 1980s through to 2008. His crimes included four rapes, seven indecent assaults, and the abduction of a 14-year-old girl.
The investigation established that Dance utilised his status as a “man of the community” to mask his predatory nature. The prosecution reported that he repeatedly raped a girl in the 1980s and silenced his victims through “vile” threats, telling them he would kill them and that no one would believe their allegations. The court heard how he preyed on four other young victims, using his “likeable” and “clever” persona to gain access and maintain control over a decade of offending.
Judicial Findings and Release Information
The court reported that while the initial sentence was 21 and a half years, it was later reduced to 15 years on a legal technicality. In 2019, it was confirmed that Dance had been released from prison after serving only 9 years of his term. This “dishonest” discrepancy in the perceived justice served caused significant distress to the survivors and their families. The prosecution emphasised that the courage of the victims was the only reason his secret life was brought to light, yet the legal system allowed for his early release on licence.
In 2010, the judge noted that Dance had lived a double life for decades. Relatives of the victims expressed that they are now “petrified” and that the survivors are “constantly looking behind their backs.” The prosecution reported that despite his guilty pleas for 14 offences, several other charges of rape and attempted indecent assault were ordered to lie on file. For his crimes in Budleigh Salterton, the court determined that he remains a “serious” risk who must be monitored indefinitely.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Adrian ‘Tommy’ Dance was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Initially 21.5 years, reduced to 15 years (released in 2019 after 9 years).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Licence Conditions: Subject to strict supervision by the Probation Service upon release.
- Convictions: Admitted 14 counts ,including rape, indecent assault, indecency with a child, and abduction.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Dance is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon and Cornwall Police and the Probation Service. Following his release in 2019, he is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit to ensure he does not approach his victims or other vulnerable minors in the Budleigh Salterton and Devon area.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Dance must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Devon. Authorities state that because he is a “clever” and “exploitative” offender, his licence conditions are specifically designed to curb his ability to integrate back into positions of community trust. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
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