Excavation work is continuing at the former home of a paedophile couple who knew serial killers Fred and Rose West.
David and Pauline Williams were jailed at Exeter Crown Court in November for a string of sexual offences against children dating back to the 1980s.
Their catalogue of abuse against girls and boys as young as seven started in Gloucester, where they met the Wests, and continued when they moved to Devon in the 1990s.
A postcode showing the friendship between the couple and the Wests has emerged, appearing to insinuate that they were part of a sex ring.
Devon and Cornwall Police today refused to rule in or out any connection to the Wests and the force’s investigation at the Williams’ bungalow in Bradninch in Devon.
Twelve police officers are digging by hand to a depth of approximately three feet in the couple’s back garden in the end-of-terrace property near Cullompton.
Andy Jones, from the Crime Through Time Collection at the former Littledean Jail in Gloucestershire, has revealed a postcard to the David and Pauline Williams, written by Rose West.
“When I saw the postcard it reaffirmed the view that they were depraved perverts and paedophiles and they were part of a sex ring,” Mr Jones told the Press Association.
“I think the innuendo, to me, knowing what I know from local sources, it implies that they were having an orgy on a short vacation.
“I think the Williams were kept in the loop by way of this cryptic, coded letter.
“It contains a bit of dark humour from Fred. He was illiterate, but I think when Rose was writing the card, the dark humour was expressed by Fred.”
The card, posted in 1990, was written to the “West Williams Menagerie” – suggesting the West children were staying with the Williamses.
“I think ‘the menagerie’ is a term which was regularly used by Rose. I think she looked on her children as animals,” Mr Jones added.
He claimed the Wests and Williamses were “well known” to each other and described Pauline Williams as “depraved”.
The postcard includes the line: “…The ‘birds’ are very friendly here. Loads of wildlife.”
Police began excavating the Williams’ former home on Tuesday following a tip-off. The force has repeatedly refused to say what officers are searching for.
A force spokesman confirmed that nothing had been found at the property, with work expected to continue “at least” until Friday.
Speaking at the site on Wednesday, Detective Superintendent Keith Perkin said: “These are ongoing investigations linked to historic intelligence at the bungalow.
“We have specialist search officers involved in the excavation and hope impact on the community is reduced as much as possible.
“In the meantime, we will have extra officers patrolling the area to help offer reassurance to the local community.”
The couple were convicted of 48 individual and joint charges stretching over a 15-year-period, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court in October.
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.
An investigation into the pair, named Operation Abbey, began in July 2013 when a woman disclosed that she had been raped and sexually abused by David Williams when she was 15.
A number of other people then came forward to detail the abuse they had been subjected to at the hands of Williams and his wife.
The couple denied all allegations against them throughout the investigation and the trial.
Neighbours have expressed their horror at the excavation work, with one describing Bradninch as a “beautiful village in the heart of Devon”.
