Candy Forte, of Smith Hill, Bishopstegnton, writes:

I refer to the article printed in this newspaper on January 21 about James Whittaker, of Bishopsteignton.

As a resident of Bishopsteignton for 19 years and obviously being aware of the appalling charges Mr Whittaker admitted and was subsequently charged with, I felt extreme anger at the headline Backing for man who was pillar of the community'.

I am confused as to whom these people are who are 'backing him' – the only backing he would get from others in the community to whom I have spoken is off a high cliff.

The headline conjures up an image of a tight-knit community supporting the reputation of a man who has abused and violated children to satisfy his own perverse needs. The headline, I feel, is an insult to the vast majority of this good community, who feel disturbed and saddened by the whole affair.

Cllr Jim Grimble said Mr Whittaker 'was still greatly respected by a lot of people'. Oh, really? I think not – there may be a handful of people too blinkered to acccept the enormity of Mr Whittaker's crimes and, yes, we we were all conned by this 'pillar of the community' who did so much good, but by doing all this good gave himself the cloak to conceal who he really was for so long.

Cllr Grimble has obviously spoken to different people in the community than I have to be able to say he 'hasn't heard anybody say a bad word against Mr Whittaker.' I have heard plenty, most of it unprintable.

Cllr Grimble states it seems completely out of character. No, Cllr Grimble, it was in Mr Whittaker's character; just because somene has done good work in the community and given a bit of land does not gloss over the abhorrent crimes of this man or the unimaginable damage done to the children concerned and their families.THIS AND OTHER LETTERS IN OUR ONLINE EDITION