Pensioner's Sentence Doubled for Abusing Boys at Boarding School

A former boarding school house-parent, Steven John Joyce, 66, has had his sentence doubled to 14 years and four months for abusing four vulnerable boys in the 1980s.

Joyce, of Erme Drive in Ivybridge, was initially sentenced to seven years and two months in May 2020 after admitting to a string of sex crimes, including 11 indecent assaults and two attempts at buggery.

The Appeal Court ruled that the original sentence was "far, far too low," citing the severity of Joyce's crimes and the lasting impact they had on his victims.

One victim described Joyce as having "ruined his life," while another revealed that Joyce regularly took him out of his dormitory at night to abuse him.

Despite Joyce's age and poor health, the court emphasized the need for a sentence that reflects the seriousness of his actions.