A relative of one of the victims of a Devon paedophile has hit out at the criminal justice system after he was released nine years into his 21-year sentence.
Budleigh Salterton man Adrian ‘Tommy’ Dance was jailed at Exeter Crown Court in 2010 after he admitted a string of rapes and sexual assaults against underage girls.
The charity fundraiser’s secret life as a paedophile was brought to light thanks to the courage of his victims.
The court heard the married man was well known in his community for voluntary charity work, including helping raise about £50,000 for children with cancer.
But he began repeatedly raping a girl in the 1980s and preyed on a number of other young girls, including abducting a 14-year-old.
He threatened to kill some of his victims and warned them that nobody would believe them if confided in others.
The relative of one of his victims says she now fears the safety of their family member, after the victim was informed Dance had been released from prison today by the probation service.
The relative said: “After he was convicted his sentenced got shortened to 15 years on a legal technicality and we were told he would only serve half of that.
"We were expecting him out in September but a probation officer rang today to say he was let out this morning.
“I’m very angry he is out early. The legal system is a joke. If the judge says 21 years it should have been 21 years.
“As he was a man of the community and did charity fundraising, everyone thought the accusations were not possible up until he pleaded guilty.
“I’m petrified for her now he is out. She is beside herself and is constantly looking behind her back again.
“He is a very clever man who is likeable and easy to get on with. I want everyone to know for their safety.”
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Dance admitted a sexual offence involving a 14-year-old girl in 2008 but denied raping her. He admitted indecent assault of another girl, under 14, earlier this decade.
The offences he admitted which involved a third girl, under 16, were four indecent assaults, one charge of indecency with a child and four rapes, in the 1980s.
He admitted two indecent assaults of a fourth girl, in the 1980s, but denied two indecent assaults and also denied an attempted indecent assault of her.
Dance admitted indecency with a child, under 16, which was a fifth girl, in the 1980s.
Watch the video below for advice on what to do if you are a victim of sexual assault
He pleaded not guilty to raping a sixth girl, under 16, in the 1980s, and raping a woman in 1979.
It was agreed the charges which Dance denied would lie on file.
When approached by Devon Live, the Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual prisoners.
