GARY CAWTHORNE AND HIS SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN KENT

Gary Cawthorne, a registered sex offender and former Metropolitan Police officer from Greenhithe, Kent, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison following his guilty pleas to charges involving the grooming and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. The severity of his crimes, combined with his prior convictions and status as a known offender, highlights the ongoing risks posed to children and young vulnerable individuals.

Cawthorne, who used the alias Lee Mason, initially attracted suspicion through his interactions with two teenage girls in the area. His criminal conduct first came to light when one of the girls’ friends, who was underage, became suspicious of the messages and requests he made. The girl’s friend decided to act on her concerns by reaching out to Cawthorne, who then asked for multiple photographs. The girl, cautious yet cooperative, only sent a headshot and refused to send additional images of her body. This exchange raised alarm among the teenagers, prompting them to inform their parents about the contact.

The parents, after being alerted, contacted the girl’s school, leading to an official investigation. Officers from the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command were involved early on, speaking with both girls in early March. Cawthorne’s identity was swiftly linked to the online communications, and he was arrested the following day, March 2. He was formally charged with multiple criminal offences on March 5.

On May 3, Cawthorne appeared at Southwark Crown Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child under 16, one count of sexual grooming, and a breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. His sentencing occurred on May 31, where he was sentenced to a term of four years and five months imprisonment. The court heard details of his past convictions, including a 2012 offence for assaulting a 16-year-old girl, which mark him as a particularly dangerous repeat offender.

Prior to this conviction, Cawthorne’s criminal history included a controversial incident from three years earlier, when he received only a caution for molesting a 20-year-old cleaner in his home while he was on bail for attacking a young victim. This leniency was criticized by Judge Loraine-Smith, who expressed outrage at the decision, given the seriousness of his actions.

During the trial, evidence revealed that Cawthorne had previously advertised himself on Gumtree and falsely claimed to work for high-profile agencies such as Select Model Management. Court testimony also recounted that he had compelled the 14-year-old girl to strip so he could measure her and had cupped her breasts, actions constituting sexual assault.

Detective Constable Tony Foran from the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation, and Child Abuse Command emphasized the ongoing danger Cawthorne presents, stating, "He is a known sex offender and is a danger to children—he has now been jailed for his offences." The investigation showed that Cawthorne actively pursued the victim through phone calls and personal meetings before committing his sexual assaults.

It was thanks to the vigilance of the victim’s friend that the dangerous individual was identified and his activities were reported to the authorities. The young girl’s refusal to provide further images, combined with her friend’s bravery, proved crucial in bringing Cawthorne to justice.

Cawthorne received a total of five months in jail for two counts of sexual assault, two years for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and another two years for the grooming offence, with his sentences to run consecutively, culminating in the extended prison term that will keep him behind bars for years to come.