Heart-breaking victim statements highlight the effects Callum Harrower’s abuse had on his victims16:35, 23 Oct 2026Updated 16:37, 23 Oct 2026Callum Harrower has been jailed for seven years(Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)A 21-year-old man has been handed a jail sentence after being found guilty of sex offences involving a boy and a girl, carried out when he was still himself considered a child.The hearing at Plymouth Crown Court resulted in a complex sentencing exercise for Judge Neil Davey after hearing the details of the case against Callum Harrower, the effect his sexual abuse had on his two victims as well as the effect it had on the mother of one of the children.The court heard how Harrower, of Plymouth, was found guilty in September after a trial at Plymouth Crown Court of a number of offences including four counts of rape, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual assault of a child aged under 13.The prosecutor, Mary McCarthy, told the court how Harrower had been found guilty by the jury of one count of rape of the girl, a second count of rape which involved at least two incidents of rape and the third count related to an incident when Harrower encouraged the girl to commit sex acts on him.Harrower was also found guilty of sexually assaulting the boy.Callum Harrower has been jailed for seven years(Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)Legal restrictions created to protect the identities of victims of sexual offence means that many of the elements of this case must not be reported by any media, including social media.The court heard how Harrower, who is now 21 but was under the age of 18 when the offences were carried out, was considered in law to be a child himself at the time of the offences and thus had to be sentenced as a child.Heart-breaking victim impact statementsThe first statement read out in court by the prosecutor was from the mother of the girl who was raped and sexually assaulted by Harrower.She said her daughter had found life ‘extremely difficult’ since the abuse by Harrower.The court also heard a victim impact statement from the young male victim who said his life was “turned upside down”.He wrote how before the abuse he was a “naive innocent child, a nice kind caring person who loved my life”. He wrote how he had had his “childhood innocence stolen from me” and had had “developed unhealthy coping mechanisms”, including self harm as “sense of release”.He also revealed that he had become hardened, increasingly aggressive and “angry and hateful” in an effort to portray a more ‘hardman’. He explained he may have been subconsciously doing this to cope with his feelings about what was done to him, to “mask or shield” himself from being a victim of sexual abuse.He also wrote how he “may never fully understand or come to terms” with the abuse he suffered at the hands of Harrower.He explained that he now found it hard to find the good in people and to maintain relationships with others. He wrote how despite the incidents now being over the scars it left upon him “will never fully heal”.He added: “I will have to learn to live with this for the rest of my life while trying to undo the negative coping mechanisms I have found myself using.”Judge Neil Davey said he had been given guidance from the victims in their impact statements, as well as the legal guidance on sentencing children, previous Court of Appeal cases, the psychological report on Harrower and a psychiatric assessment of Harrower and a doctor’s report as well as a pre-sentence report.He went on to note the sexual abuse and rape of the young boy who disclosed the abuse to his mother which led to a complaint being made to police and an investigation which resulted in a number of charges being made.Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors, the assessments and the age-appropriate sentencing guidelines, the judge handed Callum Harrower a total jail sentence of seven years. He told Callum he would serve two thirds of the sentence before being released on licence.Det Insp Deborah Wyatt said: “We welcome the sentence given to Callum Harrower at Plymouth Crown Court.”Harrower is a sexual offender who targeted young and vulnerable victims.”This has been an incredibly complex and sensitive investigation, and I would like to thank the victims in this case for having tremendous courage in reporting what happened to them.”Their bravery has ensured that justice has been served. While no sentence can undo the harm caused, I hope that the conclusion of these proceedings provides the victims with a sense of justice and some reassurance that their voices have been heard and that their experiences have been taken seriously.”Anybody who has been the victim of sexual abuse is asked to report it to us on 101 or via our website, or via 999 if in immediate danger.”We recognise that reporting abuse and recounting deeply personal experiences can be incredibly difficult. But you will be believed and you will be supported.”Support availableIf you have been affected by this article there is support available.You can visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system.You can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.Advice and support can also be found at:National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626For more information please visit: www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault
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