The power of prevention
News | May 17, 2023
With the month of child abuse prevention behind us, let us remain vigilant and reminded that we should be working to stop the victimisation of children every day. All the reasons why this should continue as a focus can be summarised with the simple concept that good beginnings last a lifetime. Not to mention, the profound effect of stopping childhood trauma before it happens can be valued only as... Read more
‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’ found guilty of sex offences against sisters
News | May 17, 2023
A jury convicted a 59-year-old man of a string of sex offences against two sisters that took place more than 25 years ago. After several hours of deliberation, John Dexter Seaman was found guilty last night by a majority verdict of eight offences including two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge, two counts of attempted unlawful carnal knowledge and four counts of sexual exploitation. All o... Read more
Jury hears closing arguments in historical sex assault case
News | May 16, 2023
A Supreme Court jury in an historical sex assault trial was asked yesterday if they trusted the evidence of the alleged victims. As the trial came to a close, Charles Richardson, for the defence, reminded the jury that the elder of the alleged victims had twice lied about being sexually assaulted in the past. He added that the younger of the alleged victims gave evidence that was too vague ... Read more
New support group for sexual assault survivors formed
News | April 28, 2023
Three charities have united to form a community support group for female victims of sexual assault. The Women’s Resource Centre, in partnership with Scars and the Centre Against Abuse, launched the Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group, which is the brainchild of Christine Jones, a survivor of sexual assault and advocate for sexual assault awareness. The launch comes as Sexual Assaul... Read more
Scars says ‘probation hostel’ needed for sex offenders
News | April 28, 2023
The release of a convicted sex offender without any known address has been criticised as unsafe by the head of a charity dealing with child sexual abuse. Debi Ray-Rivers, the executive director of Saving Children and Revealing Secrets, said Devaun Cox, released into the community today after serving time for sexual assault, should be in accommodation where the community would not be placed... Read more
Public notice issued over release of convicted sex offender
News | April 26, 2023
Convicted sex offender Devaun Cox is to be released into the community tomorrow. Kathy Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, has issued a public notification of information regarding his pending release. The notice listed Cox as a 38-year-old Black male and the nature of his conviction as sexual assault. It said his address is unknown. He is being released... Read more
Scars welcomes sex offender’s 35-year jail sentence
News | April 19, 2023
A children’s charity has applauded a judge for handing down a 35-year jail sentence to a sex offender, claiming that the penalty showed that child sexual abuse is now being taken seriously. Debi Ray-Rivers, the executive director of Saving Children and Revealing Secrets, also praised the courage of Locksley Cummings’s two victims — sisters who were both aged about 8 when the attacks star... Read more
What goes on in the house should never stay in the house
News | April 15, 2023
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Child abuse can take many forms, including physical, verbal and emotional abuse, and neglect. Given recent headlines, I feel compelled to focus on child sexual abuse. Most Bermudians have been told at least once in their lifetime that “what happens in this house, stays in this house”. That means, “don’t tell people our business”. Not airing t... Read more
Sex offender who destroyed a family’s lives jailed for 16 years
News | April 12, 2023
A sex offender whose actions “destroyed” his victim’s family has been jailed for 16 years. Maleke Martin, 26, was sentenced yesterday to 13½ years in prison on one count of sexual exploitation by a person in a position of trust and 16 years on another count of sexual exploitation by a person in a position of trust. He also received six years for showing offensive material to a child.... Read more
Jail sex offender for up to 37 years, says prosecutor
News | April 6, 2023
A prosecutor has called for a man convicted of sexual offences against two young sisters to receive a deterrent sentence. Locksley Cummings, 43, was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in February of five charges, including multiple counts of sexual exploitation relating to incidents that took place between 2007 and 2021. At a sentencing hearing yesterday, Cindy Clarke, the Director of Pub... Read more
Child advocates join forces to prevent sexual abuse
News | April 4, 2023
The welfare of children and their protection from abuse are to be spotlighted by two major charities throughout April. The campaign brings together the child sexual abuse charity Scars with the Family Centre, and includes a televised discussion on April 10. Debi Ray-Rivers, executive director of Scars, said the children’s advocates wanted to send “a clear message that bei... Read more
A shameless attempt to excuse the offender
News | April 3, 2023
If we keep in the forefront of our minds that the management of sex offenders in Bermuda is purely about protecting children, if we understand that the average person does not just wake up one day and decide they are suddenly aroused by a child, then we should be outraged and deeply concerned for the innocent and vulnerable in this country. If we do not provide the most effective treatment —... Read more