GERALD WILSON'S REIGN OF CRIME IN CARLISLE: LIBRARY ILLEGAL USE AND CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In August 2023, Gerald Wilson, a 67-year-old man with a troubling history of sexual offences, found himself back in legal trouble after breaching a court-imposed restriction on his internet usage.The violation occurred when Wilson used a computer at Carlisle Library without prior approval from law enforcement authorities, despite being under a sexual harm prevention order that explicitly prohibited such activity.
Wilson, who has previously committed similar offences, was residing at Chatsworth Square in Carlisle at the time of this latest breach.
He had been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order as part of his sentence for child sex offences, which included sexual activity with minors.
The court heard that Wilson voluntarily registered at Carlisle Library to access the computers, informing his police offender manager of his intentions.
This act, however, was a clear violation of the restrictions placed upon him.
During the hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, it was revealed that Wilson was aware he was breaching his order when he signed in at the library.
His defence lawyer, Andrew Evans, acknowledged that Wilson accepted he had made a mistake.
Mr.
Evans explained that Wilson’s actions were motivated by a desire to check if the library’s computers had monitoring software installed.
The lawyer also pointed out that the breach only came to light because Wilson himself disclosed his actions to the police, which allowed authorities to investigate.
Mr.
Evans emphasized that the police were able to verify Wilson’s computer activity at the library by checking the available records.
He further stated that Wilson intends to improve his compliance in the future and expressed remorse for his actions.
Despite this, Judge Nicholas Barker clarified that the computers Wilson used in June or July of that year did not have the necessary monitoring software, which constituted a breach of his sexual harm prevention order.
The judge stressed the importance of Wilson understanding the restrictions and taking care to avoid further violations, as he would be responsible for any consequences resulting from non-compliance.
While acknowledging that Wilson had voluntarily disclosed his breach and had a legitimate reason—namely, to resolve council tax arrears—the judge noted that Wilson failed to exercise sufficient caution.
As a result, the court confirmed that the indefinite sexual harm prevention order would remain in effect.
The judge advised Wilson that if he had any doubts about the legality of his future actions, he should consult his offender manager before proceeding.
Wilson, who was currently recalled to serve the remainder of an earlier sentence, was sentenced to five months in prison for this breach.
The original order was imposed by Preston Crown Court in 2017.
During his previous sentencing, Wilson’s lawyer explained that his actions were driven by loneliness, particularly during Christmas of the previous year, which was his first spent alone in 65 years.
Wilson was in Carlisle, on antidepressants, and feeling isolated, which contributed to his decision to breach the order.
The lawyer acknowledged that Wilson understood his wrongdoing.
Wilson’s criminal history is extensive.
In August 2017, he was convicted of multiple child sex offences and sentenced to six years in prison.
He was also placed on the sex offender register for life and subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
His offences included attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child, grooming an adult to meet a child, engaging in sexual acts with minors, inciting children to participate in sexual activities, and possessing and distributing indecent images of children.
Wilson pleaded guilty to all charges at an earlier court appearance.
The offences came to light after Wilson contacted an undercover police officer, believing he was communicating with a child.
Following his arrest, the police’s Digital Media Investigation Unit examined his devices and uncovered the extent of his offending, which spanned from 2013 to 2017.
Wilson’s case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of child sexual offences and the importance of strict monitoring and enforcement of court orders in protecting the community.
