GARETH GASCOIGNE FROM LEOPOLD ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE IN SUSSEX

In a case that has shocked the community and highlighted the dark underbelly of online child exploitation, Gareth Gascoigne, a resident of Leopold, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being involved in the disturbing streaming of child sexual abuse images. The incident took place in December 2015, when Gascoigne was among a select group of six individuals from the United Kingdom who accessed a clandestine online forum to watch a live stream of a four-year-old girl being subjected to sexual abuse.

Gascoigne, who was living at Rectory Lane in Leopold at the time, was identified as part of a broader investigation into the online distribution and viewing of child abuse material. The investigation was led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which uncovered that the platform was being used not only to stream live abuse but also to share pre-recorded videos and indecent images of children. This revelation has cast a spotlight on the increasing use of digital platforms for such heinous activities.

On September 29, at Lewes Crown Court, Judge Recorder Swirsky delivered a stern judgment, condemning the vile nature of the images and the lasting impact on the victims. The judge stated, “The images you watched were vile and the children involved are likely to be scarred for life.” Despite the gravity of the offences, Gascoigne-Leopold was sentenced to five years in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was placed under a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which restricts his activities and access to certain online content.

Furthermore, Gascoigne-Leopold was mandated to attend a rehabilitation program and undergo specialized internet sex offender treatment, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes of such offending behavior. His arrest occurred in December 2016 at Gatwick Airport as he returned from Spain, marking a significant breakthrough in the case.

He faced multiple charges, including intentionally encouraging or assisting in the commission of a child sexual abuse offence, possessing extreme pornographic images, and possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. These charges reflect the serious nature of his involvement in the online abuse network.

The investigation also revealed that Gascoigne-Leopold was part of a wider group of UK nationals involved in the streaming and viewing of child abuse content. The NCA’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command, represented by Graham Ellis, emphasized the horrific nature of the abuse and the global reach of the online platform used. Ellis stated, “The abuse this little girl suffered was unimaginable. That it was also streamed live around the world makes it even more horrific.”

He added, “The individuals who were logged into the forum to watch this abuse thought they would remain anonymous. But they thought wrong – there is no hiding place. Using all the powers and means available to us, we will identify and locate those who seek to exploit children for their own sexual pleasure and bring them to justice.”

Authorities confirmed that the young girl, originally from Denmark, has been identified and safeguarded following the investigation. Alongside Gascoigne-Leopold, five other individuals from the UK, who were also identified during the same operation, have been arrested. These individuals are currently at various stages of the criminal justice process, underscoring the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation.