In 2024, the Offender Database recorded that Raymond Poyner, then 73, of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, was jailed for more than five years for the historical sexual abuse of two boys while working in a position of authority. On Monday, 8 January 2024, Poyner appeared for sentencing at North Somerset Courthouse. The court reported that the defendant, a former residential social worker, groomed and assaulted his victims during the 1970s and 1980s in Cornwall and Axbridge, Somerset.
The investigation established that Poyner abused his role at a children’s care home in Cornwall to target a boy in his care. Avon and Somerset Police reported that after moving to Axbridge, Somerset, he indecently assaulted a second boy. The prosecution reported that Poyner also admitted to a charge of possessing indecent photos and a video of children in January 2021. Both survivors, now in their 50s, provided moving impact statements describing a lifelong inability to trust others or form relationships as a result of the “predatory” behaviour.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Poyner was a “predatory offender” who systematically groomed young boys. North Somerset Courthouse heard that one victim broke down in tears upon learning that the defendant had finally pleaded guilty shortly before a trial was due to begin. The prosecution reported that the abuse occurred nearly 50 years ago, yet the trauma remained a consuming presence in the victims’ daily lives. Detective Constable Mike Tarling noted that the courage of the two men in coming forward was essential in bringing a man who abused a significant position of trust to justice.
Recorder Jaron Crooknorth noted that the gravity of the offences was amplified by Poyner’s professional responsibility as a social worker. For his actions in Cornwall and Somerset, the defendant was sentenced to five years and one month in prison. The judge noted that the sentencing provided a level of closure for the survivors, although the psychological impact would likely remain for the rest of their lives.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Raymond Poyner was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Five years and one month in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated.
- SHPO: A lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Employment Ban: Permanently barred from ever working with children.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at North Somerset Courthouse following guilty pleas.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Poyner is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Avon and Somerset Police, Devon and Cornwall Police, and the prison estate. Due to the “predatory” nature of the abuse in Weston-super-Mare, Cornwall, and Axbridge, Somerset, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Poyner must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Weston-super-Mare for the period specified by the law. Authorities state that his lifetime SHPO and permanent ban on working with children ensure he can never again hold a position of authority over minors. Any breach of his registration conditions, his SHPO, or his licence terms upon release will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system.
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