The wife and son of vile Budleigh Salterton paedophile, Tommy Dance, have vowed to support him through his prison sentence. Many neighbours and friends of the child sex abuser plan to visit him in jail.

Lynda Dance, of Queens Road, and the couple’s son, Anthony, are determined to support the pervert through his 21-and-half-year prison sentence for a catalogue of vile sex crimes against girls as young as 11. He admitted 14 offences over 30 years.

And many neighbours of the pervert have also rallied round, vowing to remain friends with the paedophile and visit him in prison.

In court, it was revealed how Mrs Dance denied, via a text message to a relative, that her husband had abducted and raped a 14-year-old girl – saying: “He’s just made us both look like idiots. He did not rape [the victim’s name]. It was handed to him on a plate.”

Mrs Dance this week said she wanted to move on from her husband’s conviction and look to the future.

She said: “We want to put closure on it. My husband has been convicted. I don’t want to hear any more about this.

“Every time it is in the paper, we have to put our heads down.

“He admitted it because he had to go to early plea.”

Son Anthony said: “I am behind him 100 per cent, of course I am, and my mum is.”

Many neighbours said Dance had been a ‘good friend’ who had helped them on numerous occasions.

Peter Pope, 84, of Queens Road, who has known the paedophile for 16 years, said: “He was loyal and trustworthy. I don’t approve of the circumstances that led to his imprisonment, but, as far as I’m concerned, he’s been nothing but an extremely good companion and friend.

“I am absolutely grieving for the circumstances he’s found himself in. I can’t say I positively support his actions, of course I don’t - I am appalled.

A 66-year-old neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I will probably go to see him in prison. I will stand by him as a friend. It hasn’t changed the way I think about him. He’s serving his time. He’s always been good to us.”

Cora Miles, 59, who lives opposite the paedophile’s home, said: “It makes me feel sick to my stomach. I was absolutely horrified when I read about it. They ought to bring back hanging and castration for paedophiles.”

Neighbour Christine Curtis, 51, said: “It just shows you don’t know people. People can be quite devious.”