Police dig up former garden of Fred West's paedophile friends

David and Pauline Williams were both jailed in 2015. Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police

The garden of paedophile friends of serial killers Fred and Rosemary West is being dug up by police after a tip-off.

David Williams and his wife Pauline were jailed last year for life and 12 years respectively. They carried out a series of assaults on ten boys and girls committed between 1991 and 2004.

Specialist officers have been excavating the grounds of a bungalow near Bradninch, Exeter since Tuesday (4 May).

Scaffolding was put up in the garden at the house where the Williams last lived in Devon, before they were jailed. The work is expected to take four days.

Police are excavating the back garden of this property. Credit: ITV West Country

See our video from the scene where police are carrying out their investigations:

The Devon couple who were once friends of infamous serial killers Fred and Rose West, were jailed for their own series of crimes against ten children last year.

Pauline Williams was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Credit: Irving of Exeter
David Williams was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 14 years before being considered for parole. Credit: Irving of Exeter
Police outside the house yesterday afternoon. Credit: Irving of Exeter

David Williams, 57, was sentenced to life in prison, while his 53-year-old wife Pauline was jailed for 12 years, for 48 individual and joint child abuse charges including rape, indecent assault and cruelty.

The Williams became friends with the Wests while running a pub near the killers' home in Cromwell Street, Gloucester, in the 1980s and 90s.

The pub on Station Road in Gloucester the couple used to run:

David and Pauline Williams were found guilty last November at Exeter Crown Court. Credit: Irving of Exeter

THE CONVICTIONS

David Williams was jailed for life after being found guilty of offences including 11 counts of indecent assault, 10 counts of rape and two counts of gross indecency with a child.

He was also convicted of three counts of indecency with a child, two counts of cruelty and two cases of aiding and abetting an indecent assault.

Pauline Williams was sentenced to 12 years in prison with four years on extended licence after being found guilty of two counts of aiding and abetting rape, two counts of aiding and abetting an indecent assault and three counts of indecent assault.

Police begin the second day of investigations in the garden of a former property of the couple. Credit: ITV West Country
Police arrive for the second day of excavation. Credit: ITV West Country

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