GEORGE STRINGER FROM BLACKPOOL JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEEN BOY DURING FAKE GYM TEST

In July 2012, a man named George Stringer was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Blackpool. The incident unfolded when Stringer, who was residing at a guest house in the heart of Blackpool town centre, lured the young victim with false promises of a lucrative job opportunity at a gym he falsely claimed to own.

According to court proceedings at Preston Crown Court, Stringer, aged 44, convinced the boy that he could secure him a well-paid position earning £120 per week. To qualify for this job, Stringer insisted that the boy undergo a 'fitness test,' which he described as including physical exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups. However, the court was told that there was no such gym, and all of Stringer’s claims about the establishment were fabricated.

Prosecutor Charlotte Holland explained that Stringer provided the boy with detailed descriptions of the gym, which were entirely false. He told the youth that he was a part-owner of the gym and that the fitness test would involve physical assessments where he would touch the boy’s muscles. The boy was told he needed to speak with a relative before making any decisions about changing jobs or visiting the gym. When the relative visited the guest house, Stringer spun a web of lies about the nonexistent gym, further convincing the boy to proceed with the supposed fitness test.

During the test, Stringer asked the boy to perform sit-ups and push-ups, which he did. The court heard that the defendant then asked the boy to strip down to his boxer shorts, which the boy found strange but was told he was being paid for the test. Stringer took the boy to his room, claiming he needed to conduct additional tests. It was there that he inappropriately touched different parts of the boy’s body and handed him a £10 note. Stringer claimed that if the boy had completed a full fitness test, he would have received £25, although no details about what this entailed were provided.

The boy confided in his relative about the incident, who was understandably furious and confronted Stringer. The defendant dismissed the boy’s account, claiming he had fabricated the story. Subsequently, another boy came forward, revealing that he too had been offered a similar job at the same gym and told he would need to take a fitness test. This led to police involvement and an investigation into Stringer’s actions.

At the time of the offence, Stringer was already serving a three-year community order for threatening to kill his former landlord. Court records indicated that he had threatened to stab the landlord through the heart or slit his throat. During the trial, defense lawyer Peter Horgan stated that Stringer had no prior convictions for sexual offences and emphasized that his client required assistance. Horgan argued that the public’s safety depended on providing Stringer with the necessary support to prevent future incidents.

Ultimately, Judge Heather Lloyd sentenced George Stringer to 21 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and was banned indefinitely from working with children. The case highlights the dangers of predatory behavior disguised behind false promises and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable youths from exploitation.