The Exeter Spitfires lost their final league came of the season against Bristol Badgers 24-3.
With their fifth place finish in the league already confirmed, the Spitfires' focused on providing players with experience of the positions they are hoping to play next season.
Established players moved to the outfield, while prospects Louis Joyce (catcher) and Greg Horn (shortstop) switched to specialist infield positions and Mark Williams went in earlier to pitch more of the game.
With the league fixtures now complete but the baseball season continuing through until the end of September, the cup-winning Spitfires will continue training in the park, playing some casual baseball and softball games and looking to arrange some friendly fixtures against other South West clubs.
The Spitfires were forced to move their final home game of the season to Bristol as they have not established a permanent baseball diamond in the city and are appealing for anyone who can help to get in contact.
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Baseball: Exeter Spitfires fail to cull Bristol Badgers in final league game of season
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Calls for traffic calming on St David's Hill, Exeter
WHILE residents are battling to get the access road to Richmond Court completed they are also pressing for increased traffic calming on St David's Hill.
Christine Fraser, chairman of St David's Neighbourhood Partnership, said: "In addition to the access to Richmond Court there is £15,000 for traffic calming on St David's Hill because of the increased traffic following the development of John Lewis.
"This can't be done until the access road is done and now we are being told that ' there is up to £15,000' for the safety measures.
"Now we are very concerned that there seems to be an erosion of the funding which was allocated.
"If this is the case we would take this to a judicial review."
Local councillor Jill Owen is also pushing for the work to be done and told Community News: "My priority is to get the traffic calming installed in St David's Hill. This has been agreed and the funding is there, but awaits the agreement of the other two organisations, Network Rail and Taylor Wimpey, who are concerned with making good the junction with Richmond Court and St David's Hill."
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Hospital authorities look to provide more parking for staff using Wonford House in the grounds of the RD&E
HOSPITAL authorities are looking to provide more parking for staff using Wonford House in the grounds of the RD&E.
The grade II listed building is now used as one of a number of a hot desking centres for hospital trust staff with increasing numbers of community nurses and other hospital trust staff wanting to use it as their base.
This obviously puts a strain on parking and the trust has applied to the city council for planning permission to create another 47 spaces to the rear of Wonford House within the courtyard and the existing landscaped area.
The spaces are likely to be formed on grass-crete and the existing mature trees will be unaffected.
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Fundraisers to abseil down Broadclyst Church tower to raise money for heating fund
ONE for the diary – Broadclyst Church is holding a 'great abseil' down the church tower on September 13.
The event is being organised by the Royal Marines from the Commando training centre at Lympstone and all proceeds are to go to the church's heating fund.
Because the church is changing its heating system from an hot air system to hot water radiators, the cost is to be around £30,000, including the design work and replacement boilers.
The abseil is therefore vitally important to the fundraising efforts to raise that sort of money.
There have already been smaller events for the heating fund, with more planned, but the congregation will be looking to the village and surrounding area for serious support.
For details please email: abseil@clystmissioncommunity.co.uk or telephone 01392 466257.
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Review: Peppa Pig's Big Splash at Exeter Northcott Theatre
Children's favourite Peppa Pig returned to Exeter Northcott Theatre last weekend with a brand new show called Peppa Pig's Big Splash.
The theatre was packed with young children and their families, all excited at the prospect of seeing Peppa and her friends.
As the show opened the children clapped and cheered, clutching thier cuddly toys and other branded merchandise from the hit TV series.
All the characters in the production are puppets except for the compere Daisy (Emma Grace Arends). It was strange to see the puppeteers alongside the characters but the children didn't seem to care. The set was as bright and colourful as the popular TV show and the voices were spot on, especially Daddy Pig.
The story follows a fun-filled day for all the characters, including Peppa, George, Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and more. The nursery roof is leaking and Peppa and her friends need to fix it - quick! As they set up a fete to raise the money for the repairs.
Audience participation was encouraged with children (and adults) shouting out and jumping to their feet. At one point George loses his precious dinosaur toy and cries tears of real water that spurted out at the front rows of the audience.
There's also a Champion Puddle Jumping competition judged by Mr Potato where everyone gets wet and Peppa needs to find her Golden Boots.
The show ran for 90 minutes, so the break mid-way was well needed when small children are in tow.
The show continues to tour around the UK and ticket prices vary depending on the venue. For more information visit www.peppapiglive.com
Watch a trailer for the show below:
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Young father facing jail over attack on cyclist in East Devon village
A father has been warned he faces jail after he admitted an iron bar attack on a cyclist in a Devon village.
David Danes has been advised to arrange alternative provision for the care of his two young dependent children before he is sentenced in October.
Victim Russell Juniper suffered injuries to his head and teeth after being attacked as he cycled through Dunkeswell, East Devon, in September last year.
He was intercepted by Danes and his younger brother Jason and attacked during an argument about an earlier incident at the caravan site where they live in at Culmhead, Somerset.
David Danes, aged 24, and Jason Danes, aged 20, both of the Otterford Caravan Site, changed their pleas and admitted assaults when they appeared at Exeter Crown Court.
David Danes admitted wounding Russell Juniper on September 26 last year. His brother Jason admitted causing actual bodily harm and attempting to intimidate a witness.
Mr Jonathan Barnes, prosecuting, said the pleas were acceptable and the Crown will not proceed with a more serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
They are also shelving a charge of dangerous driving which related to the circumstances in which the victim Mr Juniper fell off his bicycle.
He said the pleas are accepted on the basis that Jason Danes caused the damage to the victim's teeth through a headbutt while David caused a head injury with a weapon.
The witness intimidation charge relates to Jason approaching witness Kevin Parsons in Chard four days after the initial assault.
Mr James Taghdissian, defending Jason Danes, said his client is lightly convicted. He asked for a probation pre sentence report to be prepared.
Mr Simon Cooper, for David Danes, also asked for a probation report. He said:"He is under no illusions about his position. He is the sole carer for two children and is also working full time."
Recorder Mr James Tindal told him the case passes the custody threshold. He said:"He needs to understand for the welfare of his children, the likelihood is immediate imprisonment and he needs to make arrangements.
"It is important he realises it is necessary to make family arrangements before the day of sentence."
He adjourned sentence until October.
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Artificial wall to be floated on Exeter canal basin for Britain's first deep water solo climbing competition next month
BRITAIN'S first inland deep water solo climbing competition is being held in Exeter next month with over 200 competitors from across the UK and Europe taking part.
They will be using an artificial wall floated on to the canal basin and competitors will attempt to climb routes up the wall without the use of ropes.
If they don't reach the top, they fall into the canal basin.
Hundreds of spectators are expected to watch the two day event , staged by the team behind Exeter's Quay Climbing Centre, which takes place on August 30 and 31.
The competition taps into one of the fastest growing areas of the climbing: deep water soloing. Climbers attempt to ascend routes on sea cliffs without using ropes, using the sea below as their drop off point when they can no longer climb. It is one of the most visually exciting and challenging areas of the sport and the South West boasts some of the best deep water solo spots in the UK.
Standing just over 7 metres tall and 12 metres wide the competition wall, which has been built by leading climbing wall manufacturer, Entre-Prises UK, boasts a three metre overhang and has been designed to enable three competitors to climb simultaneously on routes that will challenge even the most experienced athletes.
The competition sold out within a month. The event kicks off on Friday, August 29 with an evening talk by UK deep water solo legend, Neil Gresham and US climbing star Sierra Blair Coyle.
The unique and quirky nature of the event has attracted many of the UK's top climbers, with over 40 sponsored and team GB athletes joining the open competitors at the semi-final stage on Sunday 31st.
Teams have been entered from major industry players including La Sportiva, Scarpa, DMM International, 5.10, Evolve, Boreal, Tenaya and newer players such as Alpkit. The Quay is even entering a team of local up and coming climbers from the region including junior GB team member Alex Waterhouse.
DWS Exeter promises to bring the best of the best in deep water solo together for the first time in the UK. Neil Gresham, who will be competing for Team La Sportiva, said: "This event is one of the most exciting things to happen on the UK climbing scene in years. Deep Water Solo Climbing is one of the most visual and free forms of climbing you can experience.
"This will not only be fantastic for the sport of climbing in general but will do wonders to promote it locally in a region that has a lot to offer those looking for a Deep Water Solo adventure. "Video deep water solo climbing
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Athletics round-up: Long jump victory for Exeter Harriers James Diamond
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Bow and Sidbury United set for Premier Division chance
Bow and Sidbury United are set to get their debut seasons in the Devon & Exeter League Premier Division under way this Saturday.
Bow, who had been knocking on the door for some time, were finally promoted after their facilities came up to standard. They welcome Tiverton Town for their opening game.
Fellow new boys Sidbury will begin their season at home to Willand Rovers.
Henry's Cronies, Division Seven champions last season, will begin the new campaign in Division Three.
They have been catapulted up four divisions after winning all 26 of their league matches last season.
Four new teams will start the season in Division Seven, including Central, Winchester, Tivvy Park Rangers, and Whipton & Pinhoe.
Culm United, Feniton, Ottery St Mary, St Martins and Wellington Town have all entered reserve teams who will begin life in Division Eight.
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Dodge demands more confidence from Tivvy
Martyn Rogers has urged his Tiverton Town players to show more confidence in their abilities ahead of the visit of Bashley on Saturday.
Rogers made the comments after former Tivvy striker Tom Knighton came back to haunt his old club with a double as Bridgwater Town left Ladysmead with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night.
For the fourth league match in a row, the Yellows conceded the first goal and only started playing close to their full potential in an open and entertaining second half.
It has left Rogers pondering his approach to the players before games as he called for them to show more self-confidence.
"We huffed and puffed in the second half but we just did not start the game well enough," said a clearly frustrated Rogers after the match.
"I can't understand why we are like that because it is like we are tentative and we have no reason to be tentative.
"The lads, when they want to, can really play – it is just about having the confidence to play.
"As soon as we go down, it is like the shackles are off and we have nothing to lose, but when you concede, you have an uphill job and when you are 2-0 down, you have to go gung-ho.
"I don't know if I am too easy on them before the game, maybe I need to be more vocal and get hold of them before the game."
Another worry for Rogers is the nature of the goals scored by Bridgwater, with both coming from set-pieces.
The first saw Knighton nod home at the backpost after just six minutes after a free-kick was flicked into his path.
The second came after defender Steve Goss and goalkeeper Chris Wright both hesitated from Ben John's long goal kick, allowing Knighton to nip in and fire home.
The hosts visibly improved in the second half – helped by the introduction of the lively Josh Searle – but Bridgwater never looked truly flustered.
Dan Western pulled one back after John flapped at his powerful long-range effort in the 92nd minute, but only a fabulous save from Wright prevented the Robins restoring their two-goal advantage after a rapid counter-attack.
With both of Bridgwater's goals coming from set-plays, it now means that not a single one of Tivvy's six goals that they have conceded this season has come from open play.
"We gave another goal away from a set-piece and it is getting beyond a joke. I can't understand why we are giving away goals in that manner," said Rogers. "The first and last thing we say in the dressing room is concentrate on the set-pieces, but we have succumbed again. It is crazy really.
"The second goal was a bad goal. I said to Chris that his starting position was poor – he needed to be five yards out of his box when he makes his mind up.
"He hesitated and that is the killer – forwards love it when goalkeepers hesitate, but they defended their free-kicks and corners with their lives."
The Yellows did manage to come back from a goal down against Cinderford Town on Saturday, with Jimmy Hinds cancelling out the hosts' first-half opener.
"It needed a few strong words at the break, because I was very disappointed in our performance," said Rogers. "It was probably the worst 45 minutes I have seen us play since I have come back in charge."
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Exeter man denied refund after paying £30,000 in child support for girl that wasn't his
AN Exeter man has paid out more than £30,000 to the Child Support Agency (CSA) for a child he has proved is not his.
And the CSA even wrote to him twice saying that if he could prove he was not the father of the girl then he would get a full refund.
But now the 49 year old has been told that even though he has provided a DNA test showing that he is not the father, he will not get a penny back.
Furious Steven Carter said he will continue to fight to get back the money he has paid out on the girl who is now 22 years old.
A Dept of Work and Pensions spokesman said:"If a person continues to make child support payments for year after year, the assumption has to be that they accept parentage.
"When there is a dispute, then the onus is very much on the father to prompt action and have a paternity test, rather than pay and wait until the child is an adult.
"Reimbursements can only be considered after a paternity test is taken."
A DWP source said a rebate would not be considered if the paternity test is taken after the child has become an adult and the case is closed.
Mr Carter's Exeter based lawyer Kate Baker said:"I will continue to represent my client and take his complaint to the next stage."
Security boss Mr Carter suffers with dyslexia and because of this 'would not a clue' about the CSA procedures in their letters to him.
He said:"The CSA say they set up two DNA tests but that is an absolute lie. And they knew I was dyslexic. I told them to speak to me on the phone, don't send me letters. But I did keep all the paperwork which I gave to my solicitor."
And one CSA letter dated August 2013 from a general manager states:"As Mr Carter failed to attend the DNA the child support agency arranged for him, he will have to pay for a private DNA test.
"If this shows that he is not the parent of the child then he will be refunded back any money he has made."
And a second letter written to his then MP, Tory Angela Browning, in September 2007, written by a complaints resolution officer, said:"Until the Agency receives a Declaration of Parentage confirming Mr Carter is not the father of the qualifying child, we will continue to request payments by deductions of earning order and maintain the case until such time as the case closes.
"Should Mr Carter obtain a Declaration of Parentage showing he is not the father, any payments he has made will be refunded to him in full."
But in June 2014 his lawyer received another letter from the CSA which read:"As his DNA test proves he is not the father, a refund could be considered, but only for payments made against any charges for maintenance due from March 2014, when his test was taken, onwards.
"However as his case was closed from September 2009 (when the girl ended full time education) there are no ongoing maintenance charges against which payments were made and a refund is therefore not possible.
"Whilst I appreciate that Mr Carter will be disappointed, I trust I have explained the reason for our decision clearly."
The letter also admitted that the CSA continued to take money from Mr Carter's salary after 2009 "in order to recover the outstanding balance of arrears'.
The CSA admitted that since 2003 Mr Carter disputed he was the father of the girl – but he did not have the DNA test until 2014.
He said:"I had a one night stand with the mother of this girl, on two occasions. She was with a boyfriend at the time.
"She obviously looked at me like a cash cow. It was a fling 23 years ago and the girl is now 22 years old.
"I work in a nightclub and the CSA contacted my employers and took my money. They accepted her work with no proof at all.
"I always said she was not my child. It was basically a one night stand but I wore protection which I know is not 100% but from day one I knew she was not my child.
"Now the British Government seem to be penny pinching off me. I work all the hours I can every day and have not had a holiday in nine years."
He took his case to a lawyer when the CSA demanded he pay another £8,000 back pay for the girl which would take another five years to clear.
He said over the years he has made hundreds of phone calls to the CSA who told him to prove he was not the father.
He said:"I could not afford a solicitor. But when I was told I had to pay another £8,000 back pay I got one because I had been hitting brick walls.
"They have said in black and white that if I can prove I am not the father they will refund all the money.
"I have had to borrow £20,000 from my father to keep going . Over the years the CSA has taken all my money. But I am not giving up on this. I don't care what it costs.
"I don't know if the girl knows who her real dad is. I feel sorry for her but I have had no contact with her mother.
"But whoever her biological father is has got away with it and not paid a penny."
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Teenagers face multiple charges after alleged courier fraud in Devon
Two teenagers from London have been charged in connection with four offences of alleged courier fraud in Devon and Cornwall.
Abdul Shafee and Rahim Choudhury, both 18 and from Wheler House, London, are due to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court today charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
The charges relate to alleged courier frauds in Braunton, Stoke Cannon near Exeter, and two in Bideford, all between March and April this year.
Both men are further charged with one offence of conspiracy to commit fraud in Dorset and Choudhury is also charged with five offences of conspiracy to commit fraud in Avon and Somerset.
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UPDATE: Police appeal after boy seriously injured in Tiverton collision
Police are appealing for witnesses after a boy was seriously injured in a road traffic collision in Tiverton.
A car and lorry were involved in the collision that happened at around 5.50pm on the A361 eastbound near Gornhay Cross.
An 11-year-old boy, from the Tiverton area, was trapped in the car before being released by the fire service. He was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary by air ambulance with serious leg injuries.
The 46-year-old female driver of the purple Citroen Picasso, also from the Tiverton area, suffered minor injuries.
She was taken to Musgrove Hospital in Taunton before being transferred to Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The three other children travelling in the car were checked over by paramedics.
The 25-year-old male driver of the red and yellow Scania low-loader lorry, registered to Exeter, is not believed to have been injured.
The eastbound carriageway of the A361 was closed between Bolham and Sampford Peverell for more than eight hours while officers carried out a thorough investigation of the scene and the vehicles were recovered. The westbound carriageway was also closed for a short time.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 650 of 19 August.
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Overwhelming support for River Otter beavers to stay wild heard at consultation
OVERWHELMING opposition against the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) proposals to remove a family of beavers from the River Otter this autumn was expressed at a public consultation event.
The wave of public support for the animals was demonstrated at the Devon Wildlife Trust staged event in Ottery St Mary, which is just upstream from where the beavers are thought to be residing.
Once native to the UK, beavers were hunted to extinction 500 years ago and it is still unknown how they made their return to the wild on the banks of the river.
After they came to Defra's attention around seven months ago, the department announced its controversial decision in July to remove and re-home the beavers because of the risk of disease and the negative impact they could have on the landscape.
Defra officials confirmed that there is a low chance the beavers may carry Echinococcus multilocularis disease and because the animals have not been established in Britain for so long, it was necessary to assess their impact.
But critics of the proposals believe that the suggestion of rounding up the beavers is an "over reaction", and the benefits they bring to the environment, far outweigh any negatives they may be culpable for.
During the meeting, which followed an afternoon drop-in event, local residents were informed of Defra's plans to plot traps along the river, potentially from as far downstream as Budleigh Salterton and upstream as far as Honiton, this autumn.
The trust also informed the some 100 attendees that the process of trapping and testing is likely to be anything but swift, due to the complicated and invasive testing procedure and the risk that Defra could face a legal challenge to releasing the unlicensed animals back into the wild, meaning they could be in captivity far longer than planned.
The response from the public consultation will contribute to the trust's application to Natural England for a license to study the animals over five years to assess their impact on the environment including fish stocks and flooding.
The trust's Steve Hussey, said: "There was overwhelming support for the beaver population – we can only hope that Defra will listen. Very little is known about the beavers, for example if they are European or Canadian. A controlled study would mean Defra, the trust and the local community can make an informed decision about their long term impact on the English landscape."
Independent ward member for Ottery St Mary, Councillor Claire Wright, added: "The most important thing to remember is that beavers are a native species and they will live in harmony, and enhance, the natural environment and biodiversity.
"The chances of them having this disease is so remote, this is a completely over the top, irrational reaction."
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Exeter Mosque opens its doors to all for open day
Residents of Exeter are being invited to tour Exeter Mosque today.
People will be given the chance to ask questions about Islam and tour the building at the open day, which runs from 2pm to 5pm.
All are welcome at the event, where Muslim community leaders will explain the workings of the mosque and its role in the community.
The Exeter mosque is on York Road. Refreshments will be served at the event.
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Dave Lewis to miss Exeter Chiefs' friendlies
Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Dave Lewis is set to miss the next few weeks after picking up an injury against Cardiff Blues.
The former Gloucester No. 9 hurt an elbow in the 24-17 win at the Arms Park last Friday.
He is set to miss this Friday's trip to Ulster and the final pre-season match at Worcester seven days later.
Head coach Rob Baxter hopes Lewis will not be out for too long.
"The initial prognosis is there is no fracture, so it's going to be a bit of a wait and see," Baxter said.
"He (Lewis) had an MRI scan on Monday night and we're obviously hoping it won't show too much ligament damage. If that's the case, it will just be a case of getting him rehabbed, re-strengthening the joint and see how we go.
"He's certainly not going to feature this weekend against Ulster and he's unlikely to feature against Worcester. We'll just have to monitor him after the Worcester game on a week-by-week basis."
After starting the first four games of last season on the bench, Lewis established himself as first choice and went on to make 24 starts.
However, with the experienced Haydn Thomas and Will Chudley in the squad, Baxter has plenty of cover for the England Saxons player.
And he said there are also several youngsters in the academy, such as Stu Townsend and Jack Oulton, who can provide back-up if required.
"We've got a very strong academy group of scrum-halves so it is a position where we're blessed with some strength in depth," he said.
"We'd like Dave to be fit, he played a lot of rugby for us last year, but you always tend to pick up one or two injuries in pre-season."
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GCSE Results: Advice and information if you are worried
GCSE students across the county who are preparing to pick up their results on Thursday are being encouraged not to panic if they don't get those all-important grades.
There will be many options available, whatever the result, and local organisations have plenty of advice on hand.
he Exam Results Helpline is open from 8am tomorrow to provide advice and support to students (and their parents) picking up GCSE results. Careers advisers are ready to provide impartial guidance to students who are unsure what to do next.
John Carberry, a careers adviser who has worked for the service for over 25 years said: "A lot of the young people we speak to often aren't aware of any other options available to them apart from their school's sixth form. In some cases sixth form isn't the ideal progression for students as the leap from GCSE to A Level studies can be significant and very challenging. That's where we come in – to guide each individual on what's best for them."
Careers advisers at the Exam Results Helpline (ERH) provides advice on subject choices at sixth form as well as information on other potential options for students including local colleges that are available and apprenticeships in the area.
The Exam Results Helpline – 0808 100 8000 - has been open for 6 days and has already helped more than 5,000 students.
John added: "Some students who call the line are just simply confused. If they haven't got the grades they were predicted or have done better than expected it can throw them off their plans. They want to talk things through with someone experienced. Anyone who is unsure what to do next should give us a call."
If you are getting your results tomorrow and you want to talk to someone impartially and confidentially you can call 0808 100 8000 or find the Exam Results Helpline on Twitter or Facebook.The Herald will have four pages of advice and information tomorrow and eight pages of pictures and reports on Friday - send us your news and pictures to news@plymouthherald.co.uk, @plymouthherald on Twitter and /theplymouthherald on Facebook
This year the ERH is being supported by Hollyoaks actors Jazmine Franks, who plays Esther, Alfie Browne-Sykes, who plays Jason, and model Amy Willerton.
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Devon police called to wedding night bust-up between bride and groom
Police called to reports of violence at a wedding reception found the bust up was between the bride and groom.
The not-so-happy couple and their guests were booted out of their reception venue at Torquay United FC in South Devon for being too rowdy.
They piled into a local pub but soon upset locals with their antics.
Regulars dialled 999 after overhearing a blazing row in the toilets between the newlyweds.
Police arrived and had words with the wedding party but decided not to take any formal action.
A police spokesman said: "We were called by a member of the public at 11.30pm to reports of a group of men and women outside a pub shouting, screaming and throwing glass.
"When we arrived we found glass in the street but no on-going fight. It appears to have involved a wedding party".
Andrew Candy, chief executive of Torquay United, said: "We did host the reception here and I understand it was a fairly lively event which I believe once they left did spiral over into other places.
"We do try to uphold proper standards here and reserve the right to remove people if their behaviour is not acceptable.
"The standards we try to uphold at the club require behaviour to be acceptable and in the circumstances our guests did not perform to the standards that are acceptable and we reserve the right to be able to remove them."
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A 'pillar of the community' in Tiverton revealed he was a 'kiddy fiddler' during botched suicide bid
An election official has been jailed for abusing two girls after he made a failed suicide attempt and left a note in which he admitted "I am a kiddy fiddler".
Retired banker Reginald Lawson assaulted the girls when they were aged between seven and ten and visited his home in Tiverton.
He told them not to reveal what he had done to them but one told her mother and the truth emerged after the police were called in.
Lawson, aged 67, is a retired banker and property developer who liked to be known as Beresford of Berry and was a well known charity worker in Mid Devon.
He was a tutor with the University of the Third Age and a leading member of a local Photographic Society in Tiverton.
Lawson had never been in trouble before and was a pillar of the community who helped a charity for blind people and worked as a polling clerk and polling officer.
He tried to deny the allegations but an apparent suicide note was found after he took an overdose of painkillers which said:"I have let you all down. I regret to say I am a kiddy fiddler."
Lawson, from Tiverton, admitted seven counts of sexual assault on the girls.
He was jailed for a total of six years and eight months by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC at Exeter Crown Court.
The Judge told him:"You say you were not attracted to the children but I find these offences were committed for your own sexual gratification.
"I can only hope that because they came to light reasonably early it may be possible for the girls to recover sooner rather than later from the serious effects."
Mr Adrian Chaplin, prosecuting, said the investigation began when the younger girl told her mother Lawson had touched her and the older victim then revealed she had also been abused.
Lawson was interviewed by police and denied the offences but then booked in to the Best Western Hotel in Tiverton where he took an overdose of painkillers.
He recovered but police found a note in his luggage written on hotel paper which read:"I have let down so many people. I regret to say I am a kiddy fiddler".
Miss Julia Brassington, defending, said Lawson had taken a huge step towards addressing his offending by admitting what he had done.
She said:"This has been a huge fall from grace. He spent 35 years working very hard in the financial sector until he retired at the age of 55 to take a less stressful job as a bus driver.
"After three years he became a property developer. He has been a man of exemplary character who has helped Devon in Sight and been the chairman of the local branch of the University of the Third Age.
"He teaches a photographic course for them and has also become a polling clerk and a polling officer. He is now teaching literacy in prison."
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Tisdale: 'Exeter City unlikely to overtake Manchester United in terms of summer signings'
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale said it was unlikely the Grecians would bring in more players than Manchester United this summer.
City's inability to bring in new players was highlighted in the national media this week after a Manchester United fan pointed out that Paul Tisdale's side were the only club from the top four divisions of English football who had failed to make more summer signings than the Red Devils.
City were trending on Twitter on Monday and mentioned in many national media reports, who were criticising Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, and vice-chairman Ed Woodward, for not bringing top quality players to Old Trafford.
At the time United, despite reportedly have £200m to spend on new players, had made just two signings - Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera.
They added Marcus Rojo this week, but City – whose only summer signing at the time was Graham Cummins – have also brought in a new player - Christian Ribeiro.
Tisdale's task has been made that much harder than Louis van Gaal's though by the fact that City have had a transfer embargo hanging over them until last Friday. Tisdale has also had to work with a reduced playing budget and is still searching for a new physio following the departure of Andy Proctor in pre-season.
So asked, with little over a week left until the end of the transfer window, if City might overtake Manchester United in terms of summer signings, Tisdale said: "If I was a betting man, and I'm not allowed to bet, then I would think Manchester United are more likely to make a signing.
"However, you just never know," he added "If there is a terrific player out there who wants to sign for us for nothing and his mum can pay for his digs, then maybe."
Speaking more seriously though, Tisdale added: "I don't think there is any scope in the budget to bring anybody in. I don't want to say no though, because you can never say never.
"However, the hand with have is pretty difficult. I'm weighing up recruiting a new physio and taking money out of the playing budget for that to get the physio we need.
"If there is a will there is a way, and there is always a way of signing someone. But we are stripping other areas to do it and it is a juggling act and you feel like you are continually moving the buckets to catch the drip and you just don't have enough buckets. That is what it feels like, but I think we can settle down.
"The biggest danger we have got is a run of injuries and of course you need a physio to make sure the players stay on the pitch, so it all goes hand in hand."
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