ANDREW GAFF FROM FLEET SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND BABIES IN FLEET

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Fleet, Andrew Gaff, a 39-year-old man, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing a vast collection of illegal images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and newborns. The case came to light following a police raid on his residence earlier this year, which uncovered a horrifying cache of over 11,700 indecent images.

During the investigation, authorities seized ten computers from Gaff’s home, which were subsequently analyzed in detail. The forensic examination revealed that the devices contained a staggering 11,709 illegal photographs, with 1,965 classified as the most severe category of child exploitation material. These images depicted both male and female children, with some showing the most vulnerable victims, such as newborn babies, being subjected to sexual abuse. The severity of the content underscores the heinous nature of Gaff’s crimes.

Prosecutor Philip Plant outlined the extent of Gaff’s involvement in the distribution and facilitation of child abuse images. He explained that over a two-year period, Gaff not only collected these images but also shared them with other paedophiles, further perpetuating the cycle of abuse. The police investigation revealed that Gaff had used online platforms to communicate with other offenders and to facilitate illegal activities.

One particularly disturbing aspect of the case involved Gaff’s use of Skype to engage in conversations related to child sexual abuse. In November 2012, he participated in a chat where references were made to an 11-year-old girl. During this exchange, Gaff requested to see her naked and discussed making a payment for such content. He explicitly expressed his desire for sexual activity involving the girl and watched as the abuse was carried out, demonstrating a disturbing level of involvement and intent. When told that additional services could be purchased, Gaff made it clear he had no more credit left on his account, indicating his ongoing interest in such material.

Further investigations revealed that in March 2013, Gaff attempted to arrange a similar transaction involving an eight-year-old girl in Colombia. He paid via Western Union, but the connection failed before the abuse could take place, preventing further harm. These actions highlight the extent of Gaff’s predatory behavior and his willingness to pay for access to child abuse content.

Gaff faced multiple charges, including encouraging or facilitating child sex offences, making and distributing indecent images of children, possession of prohibited images, and possession of extreme pornography. He admitted to all charges in court. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and issued an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to prevent any future offending.

Judge Simon Hirst delivered a stern warning during the sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of Gaff’s crimes. He stated, “The images include a large number of newborn babies and a large number of children in distress. This type of offending is not victimless. Every still photograph or film has the face of a child who has been sexually abused in the most cruel way imaginable. This case is one of the worst of its type that I have seen given the age of the children involved.” The judge’s comments reflect the profound harm caused by such heinous acts and the importance of holding offenders accountable to protect vulnerable children.