Buckland Paedophile Sentenced to 30 Years for Decades of Abuse
A vile paedophile from Buckland will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being handed a 30-year prison sentence on Friday for terrorising young girls over 30 years.
Anthony Plummer, 71, was finally brought to justice at Portsmouth Crown Court for sexually abusing four girls between 1978 and 2009. The sheer brutality of his crimes, which included rape, attempted rape, and indecent assault, left his victims shattered.
Decades of Darkness and Horror
Plummer’s reign of terror spanned two distinct periods: 1978-1984 and 2006-2008. His victims, aged between nine and 17, spoke emotionally in court about the lifelong trauma they suffered.
“You had no right to take my innocence. Your actions affected my whole life. As a child, I blamed myself for not stopping you,” one victim tearfully read in court.
Another said, “I wondered why it happened. The enormity of it hit me, and broke me. I thought there was something wrong with me, so I didn’t say anything. I still have nightmares. It completely ruined my life.”
Tragically, one victim died before seeing justice served.
Judge Brands Plummer a Dangerous Predator
Judge David Melville QC described Plummer as a “remorseless sexual predator” who had “normalised” his horrific crimes. The judge warned:
“There is a risk of you misbehaving with any young girl – you are a risk of serious harm. There is no doubting you are a dangerous person.”
The sentence includes a 30-year term with a two-year extension, reflecting the severity and longevity of Plummer’s offending.
Details of Plummer’s Convictions
- 13 offences in total
- Three counts of indecent assault
- Attempted rape
- Rape
- Rape of a child under 13
- Sexual assault
- Four counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
- Two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
Plummer, of Clydebank Road, sat with folded arms in the dock, sometimes shaking his head, as the victims confronted him with the dreadful pain he caused.
Tracy Harris, CPS Wessex senior Crown prosecutor, praised the victims’ courage: “Plummer manipulated the victims, ensuring they were too scared to tell anyone at the time. Sadly, one victim died before justice could be delivered. We used her evidence in a special legal provision, so he still faced punishment for his crimes.”
“I pay tribute to the victims for their bravery and strength in supporting the prosecution. I hope the sentence brings them some comfort.”
