September 2014 Former teacher jailed for sexually abusing 14-year-old boy he met on Grindr A former teacher has been jailed for five years for child sex offences involving a 14-year-old boy he met on a gay dating app. Gary Pearce, 40, of Ellenborough Road, Sidcup, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, September 12 after being found guilty on August 11 of grooming and sexual activity with a child. The prosecution follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Sapphire Command – part of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command. Police were contacted by the parents of the victim, a boy then aged 14, after they found messages of a sexual nature on his phone. Officers were told that in the summer of 2012 the victim had been in contact with Pearce through the social networking app ‘Grindr’, and despite the victim informing Pearce of his age, Pearce agreed to meet him. They met in a supermarket car park and Pearce took the young boy back to his home and carried out sexual acts on him. Afterwards Pearce took his victim back to the car park. They never met again. After police being informed, Pearce was arrested at his home on 11 December 2012. Under interview Pearce claimed his victim had told him that he was of the age of consent but made no comment to all other questions put to him. Pearce was subsequently charged on July 24, 2013. DC Chris Hammond, the officer in the case for the Sapphire Command, said: “Despite being in a position of trust as a teacher Gary Pearce met the 14-year-old victim through the internet, then arranged and proceeded to meet him in person. “The Met is dedicated to protecting young and vulnerable people and encourage victims to come forward where they will be fully supported by specially trained officers.” Detective Inspector Neal Burton from the Sapphire Command said: “Pearce utilised the internet to manipulate the child into meeting him. “This crime again shows the vulnerability of the internet and social media, which is used by paedophiles to meet their victims. “This conviction will provide reassurance that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit these dreadful crimes against children.”