GARETH WARBURTON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN TEWKESBURY: SUPERMARKET WORKER'S SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE REVEALED

In April 2018, Gareth Warburton, a man previously incarcerated at HMP Hewell, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after admitting to a series of heinous sexual offenses involving young girls in the Tewkesbury area. His crimes, which spanned over several years, came to light through a series of disturbing incidents that shocked the local community and prompted a thorough investigation by authorities.

Warburton, aged 57 and residing on Cypress Road in Walton Cardiff near Tewkesbury, had cultivated a seemingly friendly and cheerful persona that earned him the nickname 'Mr Aldi' among supermarket customers. His role as a cashier at a budget supermarket in Tewkesbury allowed him to build close relationships with regular shoppers, many of whom trusted him implicitly. His affable demeanor was characterized by his enthusiastic and uplifting greetings, such as 'Marvellous Monday,' 'Terrific Tuesday,' and 'Fantastic Friday,' which echoed through the supermarket aisles and made him a familiar face in the community.

However, beneath this charming exterior lay a predatory individual who exploited his trusted position to commit serious sexual offenses against three young girls. The court was told that Warburton used his access and rapport with customers to gain the trust of their families, even going so far as to look after children when their mothers were away. His manipulative tactics ultimately led to the abuse of these vulnerable girls, acts that would have remained hidden had it not been for the courageous actions of the victims' mothers.

The first incident that exposed Warburton's criminal activities occurred when one mother returned home unexpectedly from work. She was shocked to find her daughter semi-naked, wearing adult stockings, and being photographed by Warburton in her own home. The mother’s discovery was made more alarming by the fact that Warburton had set up a selfie stick to take indecent photographs of the girl, who was lying on her bed dressed in a manner intended for the photos. The mother’s scream alerted Warburton, who begged her not to call the police, claiming, 'I'll go to prison.'

In the aftermath, the young girl confided in police, providing graphic details of the abuse and the photographs taken. Further investigations revealed that Warburton had also been abusing two other girls, with their mothers noticing suspicious behavior and questioning their children. One mother observed her daughter’s reluctance to go into Aldi with Warburton on duty, which prompted her to investigate and uncover the disturbing truth.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Ian Dixey detailed the extent of Warburton’s crimes. The defendant admitted to ten sex offenses involving three girls, including sexual assault, taking indecent photographs, and inciting sexual activity. The most serious charges involved the sexual assault of one girl when she was a child, along with the production of indecent images of her. He also admitted to sexually touching a second girl, taking indecent photographs of her, and inciting her to engage in sexual acts. The final charges involved inciting a third girl into sexual activity with him.

Warburton’s arrest and subsequent police interviews confirmed his guilt, as he accepted the allegations and expressed remorse for betraying the trust of the mothers involved. Despite this, he maintained that he did not coerce or force the girls into sexual acts, claiming that the offending began when one girl took a shower at his former home in Brockworth and then lay on his bed.

Psychological impacts on the victims were evident, with one girl becoming withdrawn, another feeling self-conscious about changing clothes, and a third often appearing angry or in a rage. The court was informed that counseling would be necessary to help them recover from the trauma inflicted by Warburton’s actions.

It was also revealed that Warburton had a criminal history predating these offenses, including a 1984 conviction for flashing in Cardiff and a 1995 conviction for indecent assault of an adult female, for which he received a suspended sentence. His health was also a concern, as he had undergone a double lung transplant eleven years prior and was living on borrowed time, with a prognosis of approximately seven more years of life.

Judge Jamie Tabor sentenced Warburton to a total of 12 years and four months in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender register for life and was subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. The judge emphasized that Warburton would have to serve at least half of his sentence before being considered for parole, and he warned that Warburton might serve the entire term due to the ongoing danger he posed to the public.

Furthermore, Warburton was permanently barred from working with children, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need to protect the community from future harm. The case served as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking behind seemingly friendly facades and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable individuals in the Tewkesbury area.