In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Lee Hanson, then 55, of Exeter Road, Exmouth, Devon, was sentenced to a total of nine years and eight months for a “vile” and “vicious” campaign of sexual abuse. On Thursday, 23 May 2019, Hanson appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentencing after admitting to multiple “reprehensible” offences against a young girl.
The investigation established that Hanson “vilely” exploited the girl’s naivety in Exmouth on several occasions when she was aged 10 and 11. He “viciously” told the victim that their interactions were “our little secret.” The prosecution reported that the girl only realised the “reprehensible” nature of the abuse when she received sex education in Year 9 at school, which had a “distressing” and drastic effect on her life. The offences only came to light when the survivor was 18 and confided in her mother.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Recorder Simon Levene emphasised that the details of the case were “extremely distressing” and that the “vicious” abuse caused the victim’s life to fall to pieces. The court reported that the survivor suffered “serious psychological harm,” which manifested in self-harm, an eating disorder, and significant “self-hate issues.” In her victim impact statement, she emphasised that she originally trusted Hanson because he was an adult and she did not believe a grown-up would “vilely” harm her.
The judge emphasised that the “vicious” series of offences—which included oral rape and assault by penetration—represented an “extremely serious” breach of trust. The prosecution emphasised that Hanson had “reprehensibly” taken advantage of the girl’s innocence over an 18-month period. For his crimes in Exmouth and East Devon, the court determined that a significant custodial term followed by an extended licence was necessary to reflect the “vile” trauma inflicted on the survivor.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Lee Hanson was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Eight years and eight months in immediate custody.
- Extended Licence: A further one year on licence (total sentence of nine years and eight months).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Admitted two counts of oral rape, two of assault by penetration, two of inciting a child to sexual activity, and two of sexual assault.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Hanson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon & Cornwall Police and the prison estate. Due to the “vile” nature of the oral rapes and his “vicious” long-term grooming of a child, his management is under the highest level of scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Hanson must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his future residence in Exeter Road, Exmouth, Devon. Authorities state that his “reprehensible” history and the “vicious” psychological damage caused to his victim justify the lifelong monitoring and the extended licence. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms upon release will result in his immediate arrest and return to Exeter Crown Court.
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