ANDREW GORDON FROM CROOK SENTENCED IN NORTHERN LEAGUE TOWN FOR SEX OFFENDER OFFENSES

In November 2014, Andrew Neil Gordon, a registered sex offender from Crook, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of exploiting his position within a local football club to gain access to children. The court heard that Gordon, aged 42 and residing at West Springs in Crook, had deliberately posed as a passionate supporter of Crook Town, a team competing in the Northern League, in order to establish trust and proximity to young fans.

His scheme unraveled when Gerald Hirst, the club’s then-chairman and a former prison worker, overheard Gordon using prison slang while conversing with a customer at a charity shop where Gordon also volunteered. This incident raised suspicions about Gordon’s true intentions, especially considering his history as a sex offender. Hirst, who manages the Chernobyl Children’s Project charity shop in Crook, immediately recognized that Gordon was working in an inappropriate environment and with vulnerable individuals.

Gordon’s criminal record includes a previous conviction for taking and making indecent photographs of children, which led to a three-year prison sentence in 2008. During that sentence, four months were specifically for breaching a sexual offences prevention order (Sopo), which prohibited him from having contact with minors. His violations continued after his release, culminating in an additional 16 months of incarceration for nine breaches of the order, including allowing children into his home in December 2011.

Despite these restrictions, Gordon became increasingly involved with Crook Town Football Club. He assisted with ground maintenance and helped out at the clubhouse at Millfield, especially after he started attending matches regularly. On match days, he often sold club merchandise, frequently to young fans, and even traveled on the club’s bus to away games, where children of other officials were often present. His involvement extended to helping at a family fun day held at the club’s ground, where he was seen wandering among various attractions, further embedding himself within the community.

Gerald Hirst commented on Gordon’s demeanor, noting that he was articulate and well-spoken but also lazy, only doing what suited him. Hirst expressed relief that the community had avoided a potential danger, emphasizing the risk Gordon posed given his history and manipulative tendencies. Gordon was also nominated for a position on the club committee, highlighting how deeply he had integrated himself into the club’s activities.

During the court proceedings, Kate Dodds, the prosecutor, pointed out that Gordon’s actions posed an obvious risk to children and that his breaches of the Sopo were not isolated incidents. Susan Hirst, representing the defense, explained that after his previous prison sentence, Gordon had largely remained housebound, and his father suggested he attend local football matches as a way to get out more. She argued that his behavior was largely lawful and that his involvement with the club was a positive development.

However, Judge Christopher Prince emphasized the importance of the restrictions placed on Gordon, stating, “These orders are put in place to stop people like him getting into a position to have access to children.” The judge condemned Gordon’s manipulative behavior, noting that he was capable of exploiting situations to get close to minors and that he was fully aware of the restrictions imposed on him. He concluded that Gordon’s actions demonstrated a calculated effort to circumvent the rules and maintain contact with children, driven by a sexual attraction to female minors.

As a result, Gordon was sentenced to three years in prison, and the sexual offences prevention order was extended indefinitely to prevent any future contact with minors. The case underscores the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially when they seek to re-establish trust within community institutions such as local football clubs.