COURTNEY GORDON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN DERBY: JAMAICAN SEX OFFENDER'S DARK PAST REVEALED

In December 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving Courtney Gordon, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, who committed heinous acts against a young girl in Derby. Gordon, an illegal immigrant from Jamaica, had a criminal record that stretched back to his home country, where he was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1996. His journey to the United Kingdom began in 2006 when he moved to Derby to care for a sick relative, but shortly after his arrival, he began abusing a vulnerable young girl.

The victim, who was only seven years old at the time, endured a three-year ordeal of sexual abuse at the hands of Gordon. The abuse persisted until she was ten, and it was only after she confided in a friend that her parents were made aware of the horrifying situation. The court heard that Gordon's misconduct was not an isolated incident; his criminal history in Jamaica included a conviction for rape, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior.

During the trial at Derby Crown Court, it was revealed that Gordon had been abusing the girl when they were alone in a house, but also when others were present elsewhere in the property, indicating a calculated attempt to conceal his actions. The young girl later told police that Gordon had been “doing stuff to her,” and she recounted that he had told her not to tell anyone, insisting there was “nothing wrong with it.”

In the course of the investigation, the victim’s family expressed feelings of guilt, believing they had introduced their daughter to Gordon, unaware of his dangerous past. Gordon was arrested on June 12, and subsequently pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of raping a child under 13, three counts of sexual assault with a child under 13 by touching, three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration.

The court, presided over by Judge John Burgess, sentenced Gordon to an indeterminate term for public protection, meaning he will remain incarcerated until authorities determine he is no longer a threat to society. The minimum term he must serve is five years and nine months. Additionally, Gordon was ordered to register as a sex offender, prohibited from working or residing with children, and faces deportation from the UK.

Sonal Ahya, representing Gordon in mitigation, stated that he had been “open and candid” about his actions and expressed remorse and regret for his crimes. However, the severity of his offenses and the danger he poses to the public led to the harsh sentence.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Andy Wright commented on the case, emphasizing the danger Gordon represents. He said, “I think it is what we could have expected in the circumstances – he is obviously a dangerous man. These types of investigations are always difficult. The family are obviously very distressed by what has happened. I just hope they can get past it.”

It was also revealed that Gordon’s initial visa application to enter the UK had been refused, but an independent court had granted him an appeal, allowing him into the country. That visa has since expired. A UK Border Agency spokesperson explained that current procedures now require visa applicants to provide fingerprints for background checks, and that thousands of applications have been refused where individuals pose a risk or are unlikely to comply with visa conditions, reflecting increased efforts to prevent dangerous individuals from entering the country.