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| Devon paedophile police officer Danny Bryant jailed | Devon paedophile police officer Danny Bryant jailed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A paedophile policeman who abused boys for more than a decade has been jailed for six and a half years. | A paedophile policeman who abused boys for more than a decade has been jailed for six and a half years. |
| Danny Bryant committed several of the offences as an official of a police surf life saving club in Devon, Taunton Crown Court heard. | Danny Bryant committed several of the offences as an official of a police surf life saving club in Devon, Taunton Crown Court heard. |
| Bryant, 65, of Bideford, admitted 10 indecent assaults against five boys between 1974 and 1985. | Bryant, 65, of Bideford, admitted 10 indecent assaults against five boys between 1974 and 1985. |
| The case has been referred to the Police Complaints Authority amid claims of a police cover-up. | |
| Bryant helped run a Surf Life Saving GB club affiliated at Saunton Sands in the 1980s when Russel Dawson said he was abused a number of times. | Bryant helped run a Surf Life Saving GB club affiliated at Saunton Sands in the 1980s when Russel Dawson said he was abused a number of times. |
| 'Mentor and hero' | 'Mentor and hero' |
| Mr Dawson, who was 14 when the abuse began, has waived his right to anonymity. | Mr Dawson, who was 14 when the abuse began, has waived his right to anonymity. |
| He told police in a statement that all the members of the club saw Bryant, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1985 for his youth work, as a "mentor and our hero". | |
| But from 1983, Bryant took advantage of weekends away to abuse Mr Dawson. | But from 1983, Bryant took advantage of weekends away to abuse Mr Dawson. |
| The abuse continued until 1988 when Mr Dawson heard that Bryant had abused another child not connected with the surf club and reported it to the police. | The abuse continued until 1988 when Mr Dawson heard that Bryant had abused another child not connected with the surf club and reported it to the police. |
| He said he gave a detailed statement, but police later wrote to him saying they "did not feel they had enough evidence to prosecute". | He said he gave a detailed statement, but police later wrote to him saying they "did not feel they had enough evidence to prosecute". |
| Mr Dawson then consulted a solicitor about taking legal action, but he said that he was visited later by a chief inspector who warned him and his family about the "horrendous ordeal" a civil case would be and he agreed to drop it. | Mr Dawson then consulted a solicitor about taking legal action, but he said that he was visited later by a chief inspector who warned him and his family about the "horrendous ordeal" a civil case would be and he agreed to drop it. |
| Bryant continued as a PC in Devon and Cornwall Police until he was suspended in 1993 after another victim came forward. | Bryant continued as a PC in Devon and Cornwall Police until he was suspended in 1993 after another victim came forward. |
| 'Crippling and devastating' | |
| Mr Dawson's mother offered to help police investigate, but he said "she was told that they did not need her help and she was asked not to call them again". | Mr Dawson's mother offered to help police investigate, but he said "she was told that they did not need her help and she was asked not to call them again". |
| Bryant retired on medical grounds in 1994, but was only charged this year. | Bryant retired on medical grounds in 1994, but was only charged this year. |
| Mr Dawson said after the case that the abuse had been "crippling and devastating". | |
| He said: "The police covered it up and it has been really difficult getting on with my life." | |
| Sentencing Bryant, Judge David Ticehurst said it was "a matter of regret that the force did not bring him to justice before". | |
| Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: "The prosecution of Danny Bryant demonstrates that no matter how long ago an offence may have been committed, the door is never closed and offenders will be brought to justice. | Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: "The prosecution of Danny Bryant demonstrates that no matter how long ago an offence may have been committed, the door is never closed and offenders will be brought to justice. |
| "The fact that Danny Bryant committed these crimes while a serving police officer makes them all the more serious and an unforgiveable abuse of trust which the public should quite rightly give to a police officer." | "The fact that Danny Bryant committed these crimes while a serving police officer makes them all the more serious and an unforgiveable abuse of trust which the public should quite rightly give to a police officer." |
| Esther Pearson, chief executive of Surf Life Saving GB (SLSGB), said the organisation had been unaware of the allegations until it received a letter from Mr Dawson on 19 October last year. | Esther Pearson, chief executive of Surf Life Saving GB (SLSGB), said the organisation had been unaware of the allegations until it received a letter from Mr Dawson on 19 October last year. |
| Bryant lost his membership of the organisation and was barred as a volunteer the next day, she said. | Bryant lost his membership of the organisation and was barred as a volunteer the next day, she said. |
| Ms Pearson said that Bryant had had no contact with children in his role in the organisation since 1993. | Ms Pearson said that Bryant had had no contact with children in his role in the organisation since 1993. |
| She said: "We take our safeguarding policy in regard to volunteers who have regular contact with children very seriously." | She said: "We take our safeguarding policy in regard to volunteers who have regular contact with children very seriously." |