GARY FITZPATRICK FROM WYTHENSHAWE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SICK MESSAGE SCANDAL

In March 2021, a disturbing case involving Gary Fitzpatrick from Wythenshawe came to light, revealing his attempt to engage in sexual communication with a minor through online platforms. Fitzpatrick, aged 53, believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old boy on a chat site, but in reality, he was speaking with an undercover police officer operating under the alias ‘C’.

The incident began in February 2019 when the officer created an account on the platform ‘ChatIW’ under the pseudonym ‘ConfusedLad’. Almost immediately, Fitzpatrick, using the username ‘Manc’, initiated contact and sent a message that revealed his intentions. The officer responded by disclosing that he was only 14 years old, prompting Fitzpatrick to reply with a flippant comment: “Fourteen, nice. What makes you think you’re too young for me LOL.”

The conversation quickly turned sexual in nature. Fitzpatrick asked whether the boy was gay or bisexual and inquired if he had performed sexual acts on his school friends. The dialogue escalated further, with Fitzpatrick asking why the boy was not at school and expressing a desire to have a ‘cam w***’ if he had been available. He also asked if the boy had performed sexual acts on his friends, to which the boy responded affirmatively. Fitzpatrick’s responses included the word “yummy” and other graphic messages, indicating his inappropriate intentions.

In July 2019, authorities executed a search at Fitzpatrick’s residence on Sandhill Walk in Wythenshawe. During the search, officers discovered numerous indecent images on his phone, along with internet searches related to underage girls, including terms like ‘under 18 F’, ‘11-year-old Lucy’, and ‘Emma underage’.

Fitzpatrick later admitted to attempting to communicate sexually with a child and to possessing indecent images, pleading guilty to these charges. The case was brought before Manchester Crown Court, where the prosecution detailed the extent of his online activity and the nature of his conversations.

On March 5, 2021, Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC sentenced Fitzpatrick to a ten-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. The judge acknowledged the serious nature of his actions but also considered the pre-sentence report, which suggested that a short custodial sentence might have limited rehabilitative value. Instead, Fitzpatrick was ordered to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work and participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and mandated to register as a sex offender for the same period.

Prosecutor Richard Orme outlined the timeline, emphasizing that the undercover officer’s creation of the ‘Manc’ account on February 25, 2019, led to Fitzpatrick’s engagement. The defendant’s immediate disclosure of his age and subsequent sexualized questions demonstrated his intent and belief that he was communicating with a minor. The police intervention and subsequent search uncovered further evidence of his online predatory behavior, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by such offenders in the community.