ANTHONY GADD FROM ARNSIDE AND WHITBY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL GROOMING OF SCHOOLGIRL

In April 2013, a man named Anthony Gadd, who previously resided in Arnside and later moved to Commondale, Whitby, was brought before Carlisle Crown Court to face serious allegations related to the sexual exploitation of a young girl. The court heard that Gadd, now aged 50, had engaged in a disturbing pattern of abuse over a period of approximately two years, during which he used various tactics to manipulate and groom the victim, who was between 13 and 14 years old at the time.

According to the evidence presented during the trial, Gadd would often lure the girl to secluded locations, including his own residence and other undisclosed places where she was left alone with him. His method of manipulation included offering her treats, a tactic aimed at lowering her defenses and persuading her to engage in sexual acts. The court was told that Gadd's actions were calculated and persistent, with the intent to exploit the girl’s vulnerability.

Gadd faced multiple charges, specifically five counts of inciting the girl to perform sexual acts. He pleaded not guilty to these charges, denying any wrongdoing. However, after a six-day trial, the jury found him guilty of all five counts. The court also considered three additional, more serious charges alleging that Gadd had actually engaged in sexual activity with the girl. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on these charges, and the prosecution subsequently decided not to pursue a retrial, leading to Gadd being declared not guilty on those counts.

On the day of sentencing, Gadd appeared in court to face the consequences of his actions. The judge, Barbara Forrester, sentenced him to two years in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that period. Additionally, Gadd was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service. As part of the court’s measures to prevent further offending, Gadd was placed on the sex offenders register and subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). This order prohibited him from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16 and barred him entirely from any contact with the girl he had abused for a period of ten years.

During the hearing, Gadd’s defense lawyer, Andy Pilkington, argued that his client, who was planning to marry later that year, maintained his innocence. Pilkington claimed that Gadd believed the girl and her mother had conspired against him to falsely accuse him of misconduct. He also challenged the necessity of the SOPO, asserting that there was no evidence suggesting Gadd posed a significant risk of harm to the public or that he would reoffend. Furthermore, Pilkington pointed out that Gadd and the victim now lived on opposite sides of the country, making future contact unlikely.

However, Judge Forrester emphasized that although Gadd was only being sentenced for inciting the girl to perform sexual acts rather than engaging in them directly, the nature of his conduct was nonetheless grave. She highlighted that Gadd had repeatedly asked the girl to participate in sexual activities, and even attempted to persuade her to wear clothing that pleased him. The judge described this behavior as grooming, which she stated causes serious psychological harm even in the absence of physical contact. She concluded by condemning Gadd’s actions, noting that they demonstrated a clear lack of appropriate boundaries and a disturbing disregard for the well-being of the victim.