GARY GEOFFREY THOMAS, THE PREDATOR FROM SWADLINCOTE, BANNED FROM INTERNET AFTER GROOMING GIRLS ONLINE

In a landmark case that highlights the ongoing battle against online grooming and child exploitation, Gary Geoffrey Thomas, a 37-year-old railway guard from Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, has been subjected to a strict legal restriction that prohibits him from accessing the Internet or using any form of mobile telephony for a period of five years.

Thomas's case came before Mold Crown Court, where Judge Huw Daniel issued a groundbreaking restraining order aimed at preventing him from re-engaging in similar criminal activities. This order is believed to be among the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, reflecting a growing recognition of the dangers posed by predators who exploit digital platforms to target vulnerable young girls.

The court heard that Thomas, who falsely claimed to be 20 years old, had used Internet chatrooms to groom young girls, including a teenage girl from the Newtown area of Powys. Over a period of time, he manipulated her emotionally and persuaded her to engage in sexual activities. Ultimately, Thomas had sexual encounters with the girl on four separate occasions, actions that led to his conviction.

During the sentencing, Judge Daniel expressed his frustration with the limitations of current sentencing laws. While he acknowledged the severity of Thomas's crimes, he explained that the law only permitted a maximum sentence of two years for such offenses, which he considered insufficient given the gravity of the case. The judge emphasized that the law's current framework does not adequately reflect the seriousness of crimes involving sexual activity with minors.

He pointed out the stark contrast in sentencing laws: for example, the maximum penalty for having unlawful sex with a girl aged 13 is life imprisonment, and the maximum for indecent assault is ten years. In this case, Thomas was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a sentence the judge described as remarkably lenient considering the circumstances.

Judge Daniel voiced his concern about the legislative limitations, stating, “It is high time that was examined. The judiciary cannot do anything about it. It is a matter for Parliament.” He further criticized the current legal framework, calling it “the idiocy of it,” and urged reform to ensure that sentences better reflect the severity of such crimes.

As part of the court's efforts to prevent future offenses, the restraining order bans Thomas from accessing the Internet or mobile phones, effectively cutting off his ability to groom or communicate with potential victims online. This measure underscores the increasing use of technological restrictions in criminal sentencing to combat online predation and protect vulnerable children from exploitation.