GARY HEAD FROM GLOUCESTER AND WEYMOUTH SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND RAPE

In a case that has shocked the communities of Gloucester and Weymouth, Gary Head, aged 48, has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison following a lengthy and detailed trial that uncovered a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse spanning over 28 years.

Head, who was formerly a resident of Gloucester and later moved to Weymouth, was found guilty by a jury after a 16-day trial of twenty separate charges related to sexual misconduct. The charges included three counts of rape, which the jury convicted him of by majority verdicts, while eight other charges were found not proven. The allegations against him ranged from indecent assault to rape, involving victims as young as four years old and extending into their teenage years.

The case first came to light when a woman from Gloucester, who was one of Head’s alleged victims, revealed her horrifying experience. She was reportedly 'horrified by the prospect' of becoming a 'friend' of Head on Facebook, which he had used as a means to initiate contact. She confided in a friend about the abuse she endured, prompting police to investigate. This initial report led to the uncovering of further allegations, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that had persisted for decades.

Prosecutor Nicholas Gerasimidis detailed how Head’s abuse was both extensive and damaging. The victims described a range of traumatic experiences, including being subjected to indecent assault and rape in Head’s bedroom during the late 1970s and early 1980s. One woman, now in her early 40s, recounted that she was sexually abused repeatedly between the ages of four and eight, with Head assaulting her both digitally and through rape. These acts occurred when Head was a teenager himself, highlighting a disturbing cycle of behavior from a young age.

Further allegations revealed that Head’s misconduct did not cease in childhood. The jury was told that he had also raped a 14-year-old girl on three separate occasions during his adulthood. These more recent offenses contributed to the overall sentence, which reflects the severity and duration of his criminal conduct.

During the trial, Head denied all 23 charges brought against him, which involved five different girls. The victims ranged in age from four years old to teenagers, with incidents spanning from 1974 to 2002. The court heard how Head’s behavior was characterized by bullying, sadism, and manipulation, often using threats of violence to silence his victims and prevent them from speaking out.

One particularly disturbing account involved a woman who was abused after a fishing trip with Head and her father. She was tired and lying in the back of his van when the abuse occurred, which continued for about a year. Head threatened her to keep silent, and she was forced into sexual acts during that period. The police investigation was triggered when Head attempted to befriend his fifth victim on Facebook, which ultimately led to his arrest.

At sentencing, Judge William Hart reflected on the gravity of the crimes. He noted that Head’s misconduct began in the 1970s, with acts of 'grossly indecent behavior' committed against young girls under ten, including digital assault and rape. The judge acknowledged that Head was a youth at the time, and that such behavior would typically warrant a shorter sentence. However, the judge emphasized that Head’s continued offending into adulthood, including the rape of a 14-year-old girl, warranted a more severe punishment.

Consequently, Head was sentenced to five years for the historical offenses committed during his youth. For the more recent rapes, he received nine years concurrent on each count, to run alongside the initial sentence, resulting in a total of 14 years imprisonment. The judge expressed that the verdicts and the evidence presented painted a clear picture of a man who had inflicted profound harm on his victims over many years, with devastating effects on their lives.