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| Devon police digging at former home of Fred West's friends | Devon police digging at former home of Fred West's friends |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The garden at the former home of a paedophile couple, who knew serial killers Fred and Rose West, is being dug up by police based on a tip-off. | The garden at the former home of a paedophile couple, who knew serial killers Fred and Rose West, is being dug up by police based on a tip-off. |
| Devon and Cornwall Police began excavation work at the property in Bradninch, Devon, on Wednesday morning. | |
| David Williams was jailed for life in 2015 and his wife Pauline for 12 years for putting 10 girls and boys through rape, sexual assault and beatings. | David Williams was jailed for life in 2015 and his wife Pauline for 12 years for putting 10 girls and boys through rape, sexual assault and beatings. |
| The couple became friends of the Wests in Gloucester in the 1980s. | The couple became friends of the Wests in Gloucester in the 1980s. |
| A police spokesman said: "Following intelligence received, Devon and Cornwall Police are undertaking excavation work at a property in Bradninch near Cullompton. | |
| "This relates to historic intelligence connected to the address and its former occupants. It is expected to take up to four days to complete. | "This relates to historic intelligence connected to the address and its former occupants. It is expected to take up to four days to complete. |
| "Specialist officers will be involved in the excavation, which we hope will have as little impact on the local community as possible." | "Specialist officers will be involved in the excavation, which we hope will have as little impact on the local community as possible." |
| Pub landlords | Pub landlords |
| Last year a court heard that David Williams had boasted of his connections with the Wests, who drank at the Prince Albert pub he ran in Gloucester. | Last year a court heard that David Williams had boasted of his connections with the Wests, who drank at the Prince Albert pub he ran in Gloucester. |
| The Williams, who are both in their 50s, started abusing children in the late 1980s when they were running the pub. One victim was seven years old. | The Williams, who are both in their 50s, started abusing children in the late 1980s when they were running the pub. One victim was seven years old. |
| They also ran the Victoria Inn in Exeter after moving to the city in the 1990s, where they went on to abuse a string of teenagers. | They also ran the Victoria Inn in Exeter after moving to the city in the 1990s, where they went on to abuse a string of teenagers. |
| At their trial, they denied a total of 46 charges of sexual and physical abuse between 1989 and 2004. | At their trial, they denied a total of 46 charges of sexual and physical abuse between 1989 and 2004. |
| David Williams was found guilty of 10 rapes, 13 indecent assaults, five counts of gross indecency, two of cruelty and one of sexual activity with a child. | David Williams was found guilty of 10 rapes, 13 indecent assaults, five counts of gross indecency, two of cruelty and one of sexual activity with a child. |
| His wife was found guilty of two rapes and five indecent assaults. | His wife was found guilty of two rapes and five indecent assaults. |
| They were found not guilty of eight other allegations involving two other complainants. | They were found not guilty of eight other allegations involving two other complainants. |
| The investigation into the pair, named Operation Abbey, began in July 2013 when a woman disclosed to a mental health professional that she had been raped and sexually abused by David Williams when she was 15. | |
| Speaking after the pair were sentenced, Det Con Debbie Dow, from Devon and Cornwall Police's child abuse investigation unit, said: "These victims, both men and woman, had their childhoods stolen by David and Pauline Williams and all have suffered difficulties throughout their adulthood following this abuse as they struggled to live normal lives." | |
| Fred West was awaiting trial on 12 murder charges when he hanged himself in prison in January 1995. Rose West was convicted of 10 murders in November 1995 and is serving life. | Fred West was awaiting trial on 12 murder charges when he hanged himself in prison in January 1995. Rose West was convicted of 10 murders in November 1995 and is serving life. |
| The charges related to the deaths of young women over a 20-year period. | The charges related to the deaths of young women over a 20-year period. |