GAVIN GRAY FROM BLYTH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND ONLINE ABUSE IN NORTHUMBERLAND

In February 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Gavin Gray, a man from Blyth, Northumberland, who engaged in a series of heinous online and offline criminal activities targeting women and minors. Gray, aged 42, was found to have exploited stolen photographs from women’s Facebook accounts to create fake escort profiles, which he then used to harass and intimidate his victims.

One of the most alarming aspects of Gray’s misconduct was his use of these illicitly obtained images to advertise women as escorts on a website called Locanto. The court heard that Gray not only set up these fake profiles without the consent of the women involved but also bombarded them with abusive messages. In some cases, he sent graphic photographs of himself sexually abusing a woman while she was asleep, and then proceeded to advertise her as an escort on the site, complete with her full name and age. The victim described feeling “completely violated” and expressed her disgust, stating, “It makes me feel sick.”

Further evidence revealed that Gray had taken explicit photographs of a woman he met on the Badoo dating platform, which he then shared without her permission. He linked her to the Locanto profile he had created, which displayed her naked images and threatened to send these photographs to her sister, causing her significant distress. The court was shown that Gray’s phone contained images of him engaging in sexual acts with the sleeping woman, highlighting the extent of his invasive behavior.

Gray’s malicious activities extended beyond these incidents. He sent hostile and threatening messages to another woman via Facebook, and after she received a request from an unknown male—who had seen her advertisement on Locanto—she was subjected to further harassment. Gray had also set up a profile using her picture and phone number, advertising her for sexual services, which added to her trauma.

In addition to targeting adult women, Gray’s predatory behavior included contacting underage girls. He messaged a 17-year-old girl on Facebook, calling her a “silly little girl,” and warned her that he had sent pictures from her account to a porn site. Gray also attempted to engage other underage teens in sexual acts on camera and communicated with members of a paedophile hunters group called STOP, further demonstrating his dangerous and predatory tendencies.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling outlined the severity of Gray’s actions to Newcastle Crown Court, emphasizing that his conduct displayed a pattern of controlling, demeaning, and hostile behavior towards women. She pointed out that Gray’s reactions to rejection were particularly troubling, indicating a lack of remorse and a propensity for further harm.

Gray admitted to multiple charges, including attempting to have sexual communications with a child, sending malicious communications, having sexual communications with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of sexual assault.

Judge Robert Adams sentenced Gray to eight years in prison, describing him as a “dangerous” offender. The judge also ordered Gray to sign the sex offenders register and to be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. Addressing Gray directly, the judge warned that there remains a “significant risk” of him causing serious harm through further offences, underscoring the gravity of his actions and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.