Boy facing Devon rape charges

Allegations involve a Torquay nursery

A teenage boy has been charged with a string of sex offences against children at a Torquay nursery.

The 17-year-old, who can’t be named because of his age, is accused of raping one child and 13 counts of sexual touching against eight children at Jack and Jill Childcare in the town last summer. He’s also facing two historic rape allegations not connected to the nursery. There’s no date for a hearing yet.

Education regulator Ofsted investigated the nursery when the allegations came to light and told them that they needed staff to "take account of all aspects of local safeguarding procedures, particularly in regard of allegations made against a member of staff." They later served a welfare notice on the nursery and suspended its registration with Ofstead because they believed children could be at risk of harm. Jack and Jill Childcare resigned its Ofsted registration in January.

Police are reminding the public of the law relating to sexual offences and youth offending. Any alleged victim of a sexual crime is automatically granted anonymity for life, regardless of age and the outcome of any subsequent criminal trial. Any suspect under the age of 18 is not allowed to be identified either.

Breaking these rules, including on social media, could be seen as interfering with a live investigation and an active criminal trial, and people could be found guilty of contempt of court - which means a criminal record.

Police ask that people don't speculate on the identity of either the victim or the suspect.