EX-GEDLING COUNCILLOR JAILED FOR OVER 600 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES
A former Gedling councillor with a 'dark and sinister' side will serve nearly two years in prison after authorities uncovered over 600 indecent images of children on his devices.Desmond Gibbons, aged 67 and residing on Station Road in Ollerton, was found to possess a total of 686 images on his mobile phone and laptop.
The images included indecent photos of children as young as three, along with two images depicting bestiality involving a dog.
During a court hearing on October 18 at Nottingham Crown Court, Gibbons was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Despite being a labour council member since 2019 representing the Bestwood St Albans ward, he resigned in August 2024 citing ill health, though the crimes occurred while he was still in office.
The police first received intel in May 2023 indicating indecent images were uploaded via a Skype account linked to Gibbons.
Following his arrest in April, authorities seized his Samsung mobile and Toshiba laptop, revealing categories of harmful images—115 of the worst kind, with some children as young as four.
The images also included indecent photos of younger children in categories B and C, some as young as three.
Gibbons, who previously worked at Royal Mail and was involved in athletics, expressed remorse and described his offending as occurring in a 'fantasy' bubble.
The court addressed his complex character, noting a 'dark side' kept hidden from his family, and sentenced him to 21 months with a 10-year sex offender register.
The offences, committed between June 2022 and April 2024, were all admitted by Gibbons, with some occurring while he was still a councillor receiving public funds.
Following his convictions, his wife left him, and he was replaced on the council by a Conservative during a subsequent by-election.
