Sanctuary man jailed over abuse

A man found guilty of 26 charges of indecent assault and sexual abuse has been jailed for five years.

Alan Masters, 71, from Cornwood in Devon, had pleaded not guilty to 30 counts of abuse over a 15-year period.

Most of the offences happened at the the Tamar Valley Donkey Sanctuary which Masters ran before selling it in 1999.

The judge at Truro Crown Court also barred Masters from working with children and ordered him to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Psychiatric reports

The allegations of abuse came to light in 2006 when one of his victims and her boyfriend attempted to blackmail Masters. He told the police and their investigations led to seven other girls who helped at the stables making complaints of sexual abuse.

Masters, who now runs a livery stables at Cornwood, was found guilty of 26 charges last month.

The jury acquitted him of four charges of indecent assault involving an eighth girl.

After reading psychiatric and medical reports and a number of testimonials, Judge Elwin imposed a five year sentence and extended Masters' period of licence for a further five years.