GORDON SAUNDERS, THE PREDATOR FROM HUNTINGDON AND PETERBOROUGH, SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a disturbing case that spans several years and involves multiple locations, Gordon Saunders, a man originally from Huntingdon and now residing in Peterborough, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses against children. The investigation into Saunders' activities began in September 2014, when authorities focused on his online behavior, particularly his access to internet pornography and restricted websites.

Initially, police were alerted due to concerns over Saunders' use of the internet, which led to a detailed forensic analysis of his computer. This analysis uncovered a staggering collection of approximately 8,500 indecent images stored on his device at his home in Warboys. Further investigation revealed that Saunders, aged 56 at the time, had not only possessed these images but had also taken some himself, raising the severity of his crimes.

Authorities managed to trace multiple victims, with the youngest being just nine years old. The evidence pointed to a long history of abuse, with Saunders exploiting his access and position to target vulnerable children over an extended period. His current residence is listed as Othello Close, Hartford, Huntingdon, but his criminal activities and the investigation spanned across multiple locations, including Peterborough.

In December 2010, Saunders was formally charged and later pleaded guilty to a series of heinous crimes. He faced nine counts of sexual assault on a child, one count of gross indecency with a child, and eight counts related to the making and possession of indecent images. As part of the sentencing, other charges concerning the possession of thousands of images were left on file, with 54 images classified as the most serious Level Five on the Copine Scale, indicating extreme severity.

On December 1, at Peterborough Crown Court, Saunders was sentenced to four years in prison. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from working with children and accessing internet sites that could facilitate further abuse. This order aims to prevent Saunders from reoffending and to protect potential future victims.

Detective Constable Tony Cox, who led the investigation, emphasized the gravity of Saunders' actions, stating, “Saunders is a sexual predator who took advantage of several young children over a long period of time. This case started out as an investigation into online child pornography, but we uncovered abuse going back many years. It shows the importance of targeting people who use the internet to trade indecent images and how this type of crime has very real victims.”