DAVID FITMAURICE: GLOUCESTER PAEDOPHILE STRIKES AGAIN AFTER 35 YEARS OF OFFENDING

In a disturbing case that highlights a long history of sexual offenses against children, David Fitzmaurice, a known offender from Gloucester, has been sentenced once more for his continued predatory behavior. The latest incident occurred on December 11 of the previous year, when police officers, conducting a routine check on Fitzmaurice at his residence in Tuffley, Gloucester, uncovered a hidden computer that he had failed to declare during their initial inquiry. This discovery led to a detailed examination of the device, revealing a disturbing collection of over 1,600 sexually explicit images depicting children.

Among these illicit images, authorities found 18 of the most severe Category A photographs, which depict children being sexually abused in the most graphic manner. Additionally, there were 36 images classified as Category B, and a staggering 1,611 images categorized as the least serious, Category C. The police also identified 164 indecent cartoon images, which are also considered illegal under the law. These findings underscore the extent of Fitzmaurice’s ongoing engagement with child exploitation material.

At Gloucester Crown Court, prosecutor Caighli Taylor detailed the case, revealing that Fitzmaurice, aged 53 and residing on Greenhill Drive in Tuffley, had admitted to breaching a sexual offences prevention order as well as possessing illegal images. Judge William Hart sentenced him to 16 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his repeated offenses. During the sentencing, the judge described Fitzmaurice as an 'incorrigible paedophile,' expressing skepticism about his potential for rehabilitation after 35 years of offending against children. The judge acknowledged that Fitzmaurice now claims some motivation to change but warned that true reform depends on his own inner resolve, stating, “You need to get to the stage where you say to yourself: I simply cannot do it.”

Judge Hart also urged Fitzmaurice to reflect on the nature of the images he possessed, emphasizing that these images are of real children being abused by others, not by Fitzmaurice himself. The court highlighted Fitzmaurice’s extensive criminal history, which includes previous offenses involving contact and online abuse. The judge’s comments serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Fitzmaurice, who continue to exploit and harm children through digital means.

Fitzmaurice’s troubling history with child sexual offenses extends back decades. Just two years prior, in 2013, he was sentenced to fifteen months after being caught viewing child pornography on a public computer at Gloucester Library. During that incident, Fitzmaurice, then 51, was observed by library patrons and staff engaging in illegal online activity. His internet history was examined, revealing the presence of indecent images of children, and a subsequent search of his home uncovered additional illicit material stored on a memory stick. Fitzmaurice was on license for a previous conviction from 2003, which he had breached before the 2013 incident.

In court, Fitzmaurice’s defense argued that he was undergoing some changes and that his actions were driven by personal gratification rather than contact offenses. Nevertheless, Judge Jamie Tabor QC sentenced him to 15 months, disregarding sentencing guidelines that might have allowed for a lesser penalty, due to the seriousness of his offenses and his history. The court also imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) to restrict his future activities and prevent further offenses.

Further back, in September 2012, Fitzmaurice was again caught in the act of searching for child abuse images at Gloucester Library. Witnesses alerted staff, who then asked him to leave. Police traced him through his web login history, which confirmed his access to indecent images. A subsequent search of his residence revealed additional illicit photographs, mostly of the least serious category. Fitzmaurice refused to answer questions during police interviews but later made full admissions in December 2012. His actions prompted his arrest and subsequent court proceedings, which continue to highlight his persistent pattern of offending against children over several decades.