DAVID GALLICHAN FROM BALCOMBE JAILED FOR CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENSES IN HOVE

In September 2019, the case of David Gallichan, a former teacher from Balcombe, took a disturbing turn as he was sentenced to prison for possessing indecent images of children and engaging in online sexual conversations with minors. Gallichan, aged 63, who had previously been given a suspended sentence for similar offenses, continued to indulge in his perverted interests despite court orders designed to restrict his access to computers.

Gallichan had been instructed not to keep any computers without monitoring software installed, which would allow authorities to oversee his online activities. However, he persisted in using a laptop that he kept hidden from the police, engaging in conversations that involved fantasizing about sexual abuse. He created online profiles and personas, some of which he used for several years, to communicate with both adults and teenagers in sexually explicit discussions. His disturbing online behavior included pretending to be a daughter or stepdaughter to lure others into sexual conversations.

During a search of his residence, police found the concealed laptop in an outdoor shed. Gallichan admitted to the officers that he had hidden the device but claimed that his online conversations were merely fantasies shared with other adults. Despite the court's restrictions, he continued to discuss his deviant fantasies, including those involving nudist camps with teenage boys.

Prosecutor Natasha Dardashti highlighted that Gallichan had attempted to contact teenagers online after his previous conviction. She pointed out that he had not informed the authorities about the laptop, which lacked the required monitoring software. The court heard that Gallichan had engaged in disturbing online narratives, including one involving the abuse of a former pupil at a school in Abu Dhabi, who had reportedly committed suicide. When questioned about this, Gallichan could not explain why he had spoken of the former pupil in such a context.

Gallichan, who resides on Haywards Heath Road in Balcombe, had a long career as a teacher, spanning 35 years before his retirement in 2013. His actions prompted a stern response from Judge David Rennie at Hove Crown Court. The judge acknowledged that while some individuals had recognized Gallichan’s efforts to overcome his paedophilic tendencies, his ongoing behavior over several years demonstrated a persistent pattern of harmful activity. The judge emphasized that such conduct could cause significant harm to vulnerable young people and that the repeated nature of his offenses, despite previous court orders, necessitated a custodial sentence.

Ultimately, Judge Rennie sentenced Gallichan to 18 months in prison, stating that only immediate custody could serve as an appropriate response to his continued violations and dangerous online behavior.