A teenager appeared in court today over the Torbay sex probe – as police revealed the list of victims ”continues to grow”.
Jake Ormerod, 19, shouted ”I love you mum” when he appeared in the dock at Exeter Crown Court.
His mother Janet Hoddy, 52, replied ”I love you too” before telling reporters outside court there was ”no way” her son could have harmed anyone.
Ormerod, from Torquay, wore a red hooded top when he briefly appeared in the dock and was remanded in custody until a full bail hearing next week.
More victims came forward yesterday as officers searched a second address in Torquay, which is believed to be the home of two brothers aged 20 and 21.
But parents accused Devon and Cornwall Police of ”scaremongering” by issuing 16,000 letters warning of the danger.
Detective Inspector Simon Snell, who is leading the inquiry, said: ”As the enquiry gathers pace, we are seeing our list of victims grow. This is to be expected in a case of this nature.
”We are still speaking with victims today and this is likely to last throughout the weekend and in to next week.
”I would like to re-emphasise that this enquiry is not about child abductions and this is not a case of children being taken off the streets. We believe the victims were known to the suspects in some capacity.
”We would encourage anyone who has not spoken to us already to please come forward with the assurance that any information they provide will be taken seriously.”
Ormerod’s neighbours told how he was arrested near his home in Babbacombe Road, Torquay, as he walked his dog on Thursday morning.
Neighbours said the house frequently plays host to loud parties.
A 62-year-old mother-of-two, who did not wish to be named, said: ”They handcuffed him and frogmarched him up the road to his house.
”One of the officers had a battering ram, so I imagine they had anticipated that they would need to break in to the house.
”There are a lot of people here who were scared by his behaviour and the noise coming from that house.”
Neighbour David Kerr, 51, added: ”There was drinking and loud parties going on there all the time. The house was disgusting.
”You wouldn’t wipe your feet if you went round there, put it that way.
”It’s a lovely area but he really been bringing the place down. His next-door neighbour had to move out because he couldn’t take any more.
”The boy is a nuisance. He doesn’t know how to grow up. He just wants to stay in and do nothing.
”I feel sorry for his mother as she was ill and was supposed to be being cared for by Jake. She has now been taken away and put into a home.”
The two-bedroomed terraced property where Ormerod lives is privately owned but the rent was covered because of his mother’s illness, Mr Kerr added.
Ormerod is due to appear at a plea and directions hearing at Exeter Crown Court on May 27.
The teenager faces two charges under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 of engaging or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.
He was remanded in custody by Judge Jeremy Griggs for seven days, when a full bail application will be heard.
Outside court, his mother Janet said: ”I’m just worried sick. There’s no way my son could do any harm.
”He wouldn’t take advantage of a young girl, he’s in the process of getting back with his girlfriend.
”He is there for me all the time. I’m disabled and he lives with me and does all my washing and shopping.”
The second property raided yesterday is in Ellacombe Church Road, Torquay.
Locals say a riot van and a police car pulled up outside the flats at midday and searched the property for four hours.
Neighbours say two brothers aged 20 and 21 live in the flat and young girls aged 14 and 15 were often seen visiting.
Marian Ball, 60, who lives opposite the house, said: ”I have to walk down the side of the house to get back from work.
”There are some steps there and I often see young girls and boys drinking on them. They must have only been about 14 or 15.
”I did once see a young girl coming out of the property.
”I have ten grandchildren and it isn’t very nice to think about these kinds of things happening in the area.”
Meanwhile, parents and children spoke of their fears and concern sparked by the police letter.
Mother-of-three Tracey Barclay, 40, was sent a letter from Westlands School in Torquay, Devon, where her 17-year-old daughter attends the sixth form.
The care support worker said the way parents were notified was ”shocking” and had caused panic among the community.
Tracey said: ”It is obviously a serious investigation but a huge deal has been made of it and it has been blown out of all proportion.
”The police clearly knew who was behind it and were able to arrest him straight away. If the letter had been sent earlier than maybe it would have been worthwhile.
”I was quite shocked by the letter. Parents are much more worried now. Even my daughter has read the letter.
”The letter also made me concerned for the safety of my eight-year-old girl who used to walk to school and I’ve stopped her from doing that now.”
Dad-of-five Ray Houghton, 58, who received three of the letters, said they had led to ”gossip and exaggeration”.
He said: ”The letter has posed more questions than it has answered. It has caused a lot of gossip.
”It was a strange decision to send the letter to parents, especially when the wording of it was so vague and with so few details.
”It strikes me as scaremongering and has caused panic among many parents. The whole thing has now been exaggerated and the letter has done more harm than good.”
Savana Lawler, 17, a sixth form pupil at Westlands School in Torquay, Devon, which Jake Ormerod used to attend, said: ”When my parents got the letter they were disgusted that this kind of thing was going on.
”My Dad even asked if I had been involved or if there was anything I wanted to tell him.
”Obviously it is all a bit frightening. I wouldn’t say it was safe, for girls especially, around here.”
Deborah Culwick, 47, who has a 12-year-old son at Westlands School, she
said: ”When I got the letter yesterday I was really shocked and also very worried as it didn’t really give me a lot of information or facts.
A teenager appeared in court today over the Torbay sex probe – as police revealed the list of victims ”continues to grow”.
Jake Ormerod, 19, shouted ”I love you mum” when he appeared in the dock at Exeter Crown Court.
His mother Janet Hoddy, 52, replied ”I love you too” before telling reporters outside court there was ”no way” her son could have harmed anyone.
Ormerod, from Torquay, wore a red hooded top when he briefly appeared in the dock and was remanded in custody until a full bail hearing next week.
More victims came forward yesterday as officers searched a second address in Torquay, which is believed to be the home of two brothers aged 20 and 21.
But parents accused Devon and Cornwall Police of ”scaremongering” by issuing 16,000 letters warning of the danger.
Detective Inspector Simon Snell, who is leading the inquiry, said: ”As the enquiry gathers pace, we are seeing our list of victims grow. This is to be expected in a case of this nature.
”We are still speaking with victims today and this is likely to last throughout the weekend and in to next week.
”I would like to re-emphasise that this enquiry is not about child abductions and this is not a case of children being taken off the streets. We believe the victims were known to the suspects in some capacity.
”We would encourage anyone who has not spoken to us already to please come forward with the assurance that any information they provide will be taken seriously.”
Ormerod’s neighbours told how he was arrested near his home in Babbacombe Road, Torquay, as he walked his dog on Thursday morning.
Neighbours said the house frequently plays host to loud parties.
A 62-year-old mother-of-two, who did not wish to be named, said: ”They handcuffed him and frogmarched him up the road to his house.
”One of the officers had a battering ram, so I imagine they had anticipated that they would need to break in to the house.
”There are a lot of people here who were scared by his behaviour and the noise coming from that house.”
Neighbour David Kerr, 51, added: ”There was drinking and loud parties going on there all the time. The house was disgusting.
”You wouldn’t wipe your feet if you went round there, put it that way.
”It’s a lovely area but he really been bringing the place down. His next-door neighbour had to move out because he couldn’t take any more.
”The boy is a nuisance. He doesn’t know how to grow up. He just wants to stay in and do nothing.
”I feel sorry for his mother as she was ill and was supposed to be being cared for by Jake. She has now been taken away and put into a home.”
The two-bedroomed terraced property where Ormerod lives is privately owned but the rent was covered because of his mother’s illness, Mr Kerr added.
Ormerod is due to appear at a plea and directions hearing at Exeter Crown Court on May 27.
The teenager faces two charges under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 of engaging or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.
He was remanded in custody by Judge Jeremy Griggs for seven days, when a full bail application will be heard.
Outside court, his mother Janet said: ”I’m just worried sick. There’s no way my son could do any harm.
”He wouldn’t take advantage of a young girl, he’s in the process of getting back with his girlfriend.
”He is there for me all the time. I’m disabled and he lives with me and does all my washing and shopping.”
The second property raided yesterday is in Ellacombe Church Road, Torquay.
Locals say a riot van and a police car pulled up outside the flats at midday and searched the property for four hours.
Neighbours say two brothers aged 20 and 21 live in the flat and young girls aged 14 and 15 were often seen visiting.
Marian Ball, 60, who lives opposite the house, said: ”I have to walk down the side of the house to get back from work.
”There are some steps there and I often see young girls and boys drinking on them. They must have only been about 14 or 15.
”I did once see a young girl coming out of the property.
”I have ten grandchildren and it isn’t very nice to think about these kinds of things happening in the area.”
Meanwhile, parents and children spoke of their fears and concern sparked by the police letter.
Mother-of-three Tracey Barclay, 40, was sent a letter from Westlands School in Torquay, Devon, where her 17-year-old daughter attends the sixth form.
The care support worker said the way parents were notified was ”shocking” and had caused panic among the community.
Tracey said: ”It is obviously a serious investigation but a huge deal has been made of it and it has been blown out of all proportion.
”The police clearly knew who was behind it and were able to arrest him straight away. If the letter had been sent earlier than maybe it would have been worthwhile.
”I was quite shocked by the letter. Parents are much more worried now. Even my daughter has read the letter.
”The letter also made me concerned for the safety of my eight-year-old girl who used to walk to school and I’ve stopped her from doing that now.”
Dad-of-five Ray Houghton, 58, who received three of the letters, said they had led to ”gossip and exaggeration”.
He said: ”The letter has posed more questions than it has answered. It has caused a lot of gossip.
”It was a strange decision to send the letter to parents, especially when the wording of it was so vague and with so few details.
”It strikes me as scaremongering and has caused panic among many parents. The whole thing has now been exaggerated and the letter has done more harm than good.”
Savana Lawler, 17, a sixth form pupil at Westlands School in Torquay, Devon, which Jake Ormerod used to attend, said: ”When my parents got the letter they were disgusted that this kind of thing was going on.
”My Dad even asked if I had been involved or if there was anything I wanted to tell him.
”Obviously it is all a bit frightening. I wouldn’t say it was safe, for girls especially, around here.”
Deborah Culwick, 47, who has a 12-year-old son at Westlands School, she
said: ”When I got the letter yesterday I was really shocked and also very worried as it didn’t really give me a lot of information or facts.
”It seemed focused on the fact that the school itself was safe rather than what is actually happening, everything I know about the situation I got from the news and from parents talking.
”I only live up the road, so my son walks to school on his own every day. You just don’t know what could happen.”
”It seemed focused on the fact that the school itself was safe rather than what is actually happening, everything I know about the situation I got from the news and from parents talking.
”I only live up the road, so my son walks to school on his own every day. You just don’t know what could happen.”