FREDERICK GORDON OF STOKE FLEMING SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG BOYS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Stoke Fleming, 70-year-old Frederick Gordon has been handed a substantial prison sentence after being found guilty of serious sexual offences involving a minor. The incident came to light when police, conducting routine monitoring, discovered Gordon at his residence with a 15-year-old boy, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

During the proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, it was revealed that Gordon had lured the young boy to his home under the pretense of offering painting and decorating work. However, his true intentions were far more sinister. Gordon later confessed that he had planned to get the boy intoxicated with alcohol with the aim of engaging in sexual activity. This admission underscored the predatory nature of his actions and his ongoing pattern of offending.

Judge Graham Cottle sentenced Gordon to ten years in prison, with an additional four years on licence following his release. The court also ordered that Gordon be subjected to the highest level of police supervision upon his release, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the risk he poses to the community. The judge did not hold back in his condemnation, stating, "You have spent a lifetime of being attracted to young boys and you have served numerous prison sentences throughout your 70 years. You are a complete menace to people of that age."

Gordon’s criminal history includes earlier convictions related to sexual offences against young boys. He was being monitored as part of ongoing surveillance when the police made their routine visit to his home in Bidders Close, Stoke Fleming. Prosecutor David Evans explained that Gordon had previously admitted to meeting a boy under 16 for sexual grooming and attempted grooming, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

Further details revealed that Gordon had been observed in a local play park, where he was seen looking at children, and he had also taken the bus into Dartmouth, which was crowded with schoolchildren, raising concerns about his intentions and behavior in public spaces. In March of the previous year, a police officer assigned to monitor Gordon’s activities arrived at his residence by chance. During questioning, Gordon openly admitted that his plan was to give alcohol to the boy and have sex with him, confirming his sexual attraction to young boys.

Defending Gordon, solicitor Sean Brunton, argued that the boys involved had chosen to distance themselves from any further interaction, stating, “My client has deeply entrenched views and patterns of behaviour that are highly unlikely to be changed.” The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing repeat offenders and protecting vulnerable minors from predatory individuals like Frederick Gordon, whose actions have now resulted in a decade behind bars and strict supervision to prevent further harm.