MUSIC EVENTS PROMOTER JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST TEENAGER
2015.A promoter involved in organising music events has received a four-year prison sentence after subjecting a vulnerable adolescent to a chastity belt, in addition to whipping and sexually assaulting him.
Gareth Varndell, aged 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a male and causing someone to partake in sexual activity without consent before his sentencing at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, September 22.
Residing on Southmead Road in Aldershot, Varndell was known for promoting music events aimed at teenagers in Guildford.
He claimed to have managed the band My Chemical Romance, which had achieved multi-platinum sales, as a means to gain favor with the teenagers he worked with, the court was told.
The first charge related to an incident at the end of August 2012 when the victim arranged for piercing with Varndell, who was described as someone with a reputation for performing piercings.
The victim agreed to be restrained during the procedure.
Prosecutor Alisdair Smith said that Varndell suggested piercing the victim's penis.
The victim made it clear he did not want this.
During the incident, the victim was instructed to undress completely and was handcuffed to a surgical bed, with duct tape used to secure him.
He was allowed to cover himself with a towel, which Varndell then removed.
Varndell touched the victim’s genitals despite being told to stop.
A year later, the remaining charges stemmed from an incident shortly after the victim received a message from Varndell.
The defendant accused the victim of sexually assaulting a girl; this was denied and considered fabricated.
Varndell then proposed punishing the victim by fitting a chastity device and whipping him with a belt, which he claimed to do to avoid police involvement.
The victim was told to strip and, upon protesting, was allowed to keep his underwear on but was handcuffed again.
Varndell attempted to pierce the victim's penis with a needle, an act for which the victim did not consent.
He was later handcuffed to a box in a kitchen and whipped with a belt approximately 30 times, wearing the belt for a week before asking for the key to remove it.
The victim eventually confided in his mother and girlfriend, leading to Varndell’s arrest on January 16.
Defending, Rina-Marie Hill stated that Varndell was genuinely remorseful and cited mental health struggles as a possible explanation, asserting that his actions were out of character and unexplainable.
Judge Noel Lucas described Varndell’s conduct as predatory and deliberate, highlighting how he exploited the victim’s vulnerability over an extended period.
The judge emphasised the likelihood of further serious sexual offences due to Varndell’s high risk of causing harm.
Considering a 25% reduction for an early guilty plea, Varndell was sentenced to 50 months in prison, with a two-thirds term to be served behind bars.
An extended four-year sentence was also imposed, meaning he will remain on licence for that period, along with a sexual harm prevention order.
