GARY MARSDEN'S SHOCKING CHILD SEX CHAT SCANDAL IN MANCHESTER AND WIGAN
Gary Marsden, a police worker and youth football coach from Manchester, was caught engaging in disturbing online conversations with an undercover police officer, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl.The incident unfolded on February 8, 2023, when Marsden believed he was communicating with a young girl named 'Emz' and a 22-year-old woman called 'Sophie.' During these chats, Marsden shared explicit images of himself in his boxer shorts and solicited similar photos from the undercover officer, who was role-playing both identities.
The police revealed that Marsden believed and intended all the messages he sent, which included sexualized comments and requests for photographs.
He asked to see the girl’s nightie, called her 'cute,' and made comments about her legs, expressing a clear sexual interest.
Throughout the conversation, Marsden referred to the girl as 'babe' and 'very sweet,' discussed having an erection, and expressed a willingness to take risks.
He also made inappropriate remarks about her visiting his workplace on work experience, claiming he would kiss her all over, and described her as 'so sexy' and 'perfect.' The chats included references to her 'perfect bum' and his excitement upon receiving a photo of her in a nightie.
He also commented on being 'hot hot hot' after viewing the images.
Following the end of the conversation, police officers attended Marsden’s home in Wigan the next day, February 9, and arrested him.
Items seized from his residence included his mobile phone, which contained the chat logs and photographs.
During police interviews on March 9, 2023, Marsden admitted that the Twitter account used for these communications was his and that he was the sole user.
He also acknowledged sending the images but claimed he did not believe he was communicating with a real child.
At the time of his arrest, Marsden was employed by Cheshire Police as a civilian supervisor in the motorway control unit, based off Robb Lane in Newton-le-Willows, a position he had held since 2014.
He resigned from the force in May 2023 amid an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The prosecution argued that Marsden used a work computer to access his Twitter account and that he was at work during the chats.
It was also alleged that he took a photo of himself in his boxer shorts while on duty to send to the 'child.' In addition to his police role, Marsden was managing a children’s football team.
At the time of his arrest, he was living at his family home with his wife and two children.
During the chats, he made several inappropriate comments, including asking to see the girl’s nightie, calling her 'hot,' and discussing her 'perfect bum.' He also expressed excitement about the images she sent and made remarks about her visiting his office on work experience, claiming he would kiss her all over.
After his arrest, police seized his mobile phone, which contained the incriminating messages and images.
In interviews, Marsden admitted to the police that he had used his Twitter account to communicate with the profiles and that he had sent the images, but he insisted he did not believe he was talking to a real child.
During the sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Anil Murray acknowledged that the case crossed the threshold for custody but considered that a short prison sentence could be suspended.
Marsden, of Snowshill Drive in Wigan, was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years.
As part of his sentence, he was ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities, perform 150 hours of unpaid community work, and sign the sex offender register for the next ten years.
He was also required to abide by a sexual harm prevention order for the same period and pay £1,200 towards court costs.
The court also approved the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile phone.
Judge Murray warned Marsden that any breach of the order or reoffending would result in immediate imprisonment and a loss of future chances.
Following the hearing, IOPC Director of Operations Steve Noonan condemned Marsden’s actions, describing them as predatory and deeply damaging to public confidence in policing.
The IOPC found that Marsden’s conduct breached police standards of professional behaviour related to authority, respect, honesty, and integrity, and that he would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned.
He was subsequently placed on the barred list, preventing him from working in policing again.
