May 2018 Monstrous paedophile who raped little girl told to ‘rot in hell’ A monstrous paedophile who repeatedly raped a little girl was told to “rot in hell” by her family. Gerard Gibbons, 59, of Woolfall Crescent in Huyton, carried out a “campaign of rape” against his young victim. Judge Steven Everett today said her ordeal was “the most serious sexual abuse that one could possibly see”. He said hearing the impact of the crimes on the child was “heart-rending” but unrepentant Gibbons did not care. Judge Everett jailed him for 18 and a half years at Liverpool Crown Court, with an extended one year on licence. He said: “This is the most serious sexual abuse that one could possibly see. You raped her – a little girl – in your depraved sexual proclivities. “You didn’t accept your responsibility and guilt. Quite the reverse – you tried in some way to assert this little girl was in part to blame for what happened. [It was] truly terrible. “You don’t feel the slightest remorse for the affliction you have put on that little girl. It’s clear looking at you, that right at the moment, you think you are the victim, when in fact you are the total perpetrator. “You are a disgusting, despicable man. One can understand why within the victim personal statement it says ‘may you rot in hell’.” The court heard the sickening offences came to light when the child confided in a family member about the disturbing abuse. Nicholas Walker, prosecuting, said she described to police how Gibbons raped and tried to rape her, which she called “disgusting”. The girl said he threatened her not to tell anyone and an examination by doctors found the sex attacks had harmed her physically. DNA evidence on her clothing matched Gibbons, who also confessed to carrying out a series of violent assaults on his young victim. He strangled her, smashed an iPad on her head, threw her across a room – scarring her by doing so – and dragged her by the hair. Mr Walker said the girl described being “sad and disgusted”, while her family “spoke of their inability to comprehend the evil acts”. Judge Everett commented. “They are not the only ones.” Gibbons shook his head as the girl’s family told the court she was “the victim of the most vile, heinous crimes known to man”. They said: “You have preyed on her innocence and vulnerability in order to carry out your vile sexual fantasies on her.” The family said he had “given her a life sentence” and destroyed her childhood with his “horrendous” and “torturous” abuse. Their statement ended “may you rot in hell”, before Judge Everett remarked that he had shown “not an iota of remorse”. Gibbons was caught with an indecent image of the child, which he kept on a memory card hidden in a locket in a cupboard. In police interviews the “agitated” pervert, who does not have any previous convictions, denied all of the allegations. But he admitted two counts of rape and two counts of attempted rape, plus possession of an indecent photograph of a child. Mr Walker said it was difficult to think of cases with more aggravating features and cited the “degradation and humiliation”. Martyn Walsh, defending, said his client now accepted his guilt, despite claiming his innocence in a pre-sentence report. Judge Everett said it was “extremely likely” the girl would have severe psychological harm and the offences were “as bad as it gets”. He said: “It’s difficult to actually describe them really. They are despicable, disgusting, depraved – they all begin with a D – but I’m not sure they actually do justice to the terrible things you did. “You gave her pain, you gave her misery, you gave her degradation, fear and let’s not underestimate what she said, ‘sadness’.” He said he thought the girl would be physically and psychologically “scarred for life” due to the “campaign of rape and sexual abuse”. Judge Everett said Gibbons was “an offender of particular concern” and ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The type of sentence means he will serve at least half of the term – more than nine years – behind bars, before he is eligible for parole. He will then only be released before the end of the entire sentence if he is no longer considered to be a risk to the public. March 2018 Huyton man admits raping and attempting to rape young girl A Huyton man has admitted raping and attempting to rape a young girl. Gerard Gibbons was initially charged with four sexual offences relating to a child under the age of 13. The 59-year-old, of Woolfall Crescent in Huyton, was arrested on Sunday, February 25 over the allegations. Gibbons, balding with short grey hair and a grey beard, faced two counts of rape and two counts of attempted rape. He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 27, when he protested his innocence via his solicitor. Gibbons, wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, denied any wrongdoing and said he intended to stand trial. He was subsequently charged with a further offence of possession of an indecent photograph of a child. However he has now pleaded guilty to all five offences, during a short hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. Judge Robert Warnock said Gibbons would be sentenced on May 11 this year and remanded him in custody.