GARY WAINWRIGHT FROM STOURBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY FACEBOOK OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR IN WOLVERHAMPTON

In November 2013, Gary Wainwright, a 53-year-old resident of Cherry Tree Court in Wollescote, Stourbridge, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in disturbing online predatory behavior. The case was heard at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where it was revealed that Wainwright had targeted vulnerable young girls through social media, specifically Facebook, with a pattern of inappropriate and sexually explicit messaging.

Wainwright’s criminal conduct first came to light when he was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Following this, he managed to locate the teenager on Facebook and began sending her graphic messages, which included requests for her to send explicit images. The victim’s complaint prompted authorities to intervene, and Wainwright ceased his online contact with her. However, his predatory behavior did not end there.

In 2012, Wainwright shifted his focus to a much younger victim, a 10-year-old schoolgirl. Prosecutor Miss Jennifer Josephs detailed the disturbing nature of the messages, stating, “The defendant was aware the child was 10 because he asked her via Facebook and she told him.” She further explained that Wainwright sent messages such as “hello sexy” and even wished her a good day at school. The court was told that in January 2012, he expressed a desire for her to be older so they could discuss sex, which was particularly alarming.

The young girl’s mother discovered the messages on her Blackberry later that month. The police were promptly called, and during interviews, Wainwright claimed that he had left his Facebook profile logged in, suggesting that anyone could have accessed it. He also attempted to shift blame onto his sons, asserting that they might have been responsible for the messages. Despite his claims, evidence confirmed his involvement in the inappropriate communications.

Wainwright admitted to the charges of sexual assault and four counts of encouraging a child into sexual activity. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes. His defense lawyer, Mr. Christopher Rodwell, argued that Wainwright was suffering from depression and was in a low mental state at the time of the offenses, claiming there was no malicious intent.

However, Judge John Wait was unequivocal in his remarks, stating, “You caused a 10-year-old girl to become corrupt so she was prepared to speak about such graphic content.” The court’s decision underscored the gravity of Wainwright’s actions and the impact on his young victims, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding children from online predators.