GARY JEE FROM BOLTON CAUGHT IN SEXUAL CONSPIRACY WITH PAEDOPHILE NETWORK
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Bolton community, 47-year-old Gary Jee was found to have engaged in highly inappropriate and illegal online activities involving minors.The court heard that Jee, who resides on Castle Street in Bolton, deliberately pretended to be an 11-year-old boy during online conversations with another individual known to be a paedophile.
These conversations were not merely idle chat; they involved the exchange of explicit images depicting children being sexually abused, which Jee sent to his online contact.
The investigation into Jee’s activities began when authorities discovered that he had a history of possessing indecent images.
In March 2018, police cautioned Jee after they found 40 indecent images on a tablet device.
The images were of a disturbing nature, and this initial discovery marked the beginning of a deeper probe into his online behavior.
Further evidence emerged in March 2019 when officers uncovered WhatsApp conversations on the mobile phone of another man who had been arrested for similar offences.
During these conversations, Jee adopted the persona of an 11-year-old boy, calling himself 'Luke Young.' The messages he sent were sexualised and aimed at grooming or enticing the other individual, who was also involved in illegal activities.
In addition to the messages, Jee had sent five indecent images to this man.
These images depicted boys as young as eight years old engaged in sexual acts.
Jee claimed that these images were of himself and that they showed him being abused, attempting to justify or explain his actions.
When questioned after his arrest, Jee told police that he was living out “fantasies online” and insisted that everything was “make-believe.” He maintained that he would never actually approach or harm children in real life.
However, the prosecution, led by Mark Rhind, emphasized that Jee’s online deception was part of a complex and involved fantasy.
Evidence showed that Jee even sent images of the school he claimed to attend, further illustrating the extent of his fabricated persona.
Mr Rhind pointed out that Jee’s own admission confirmed a sexual interest in children, which was a significant concern for the court.
Jee’s defense lawyer, Nicky Gatto, acknowledged that Jee had admitted to distributing indecent photographs.
She highlighted that he had taken “significant steps to address these issues” and was currently undergoing counselling to combat his problematic behavior.
Judge Timothy Stead, presiding over the case, addressed Jee directly, stating, “Doing what you did seeks to encourage such activity, but your personal case provides a good prospect of rehabilitation and this is highly desirable in your case.” As part of his sentence, Jee was issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order and a three-year community order.
He is also required to participate in a sexual offender treatment programme and complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities, emphasizing the court’s focus on both punishment and potential reform.
