GRANVILLE GIBSON FROM DARLINGTON AND NEWTON AYCLIFFE SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE

In a case that has spanned decades, Granville Gibson, a former archdeacon with ties to Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, has been found guilty of committing indecent assaults against a teenage boy during the 1970s. The conviction was handed down at Teesside Crown Court, where the 83-year-old resident of Wesley Park, Darlington, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after being convicted on two charges of indecent assault. He was, however, acquitted of a third charge related to similar misconduct.

Gibson’s alleged victim, who chose to waive his right to anonymity and is identified as Steve Ebdon, provided detailed testimony during the trial. He recounted that the assault occurred within the vicarage of St Clare’s Church in Newton Aycliffe, where Gibson served as a vicar. Ebdon explained that he was in his late teens at the time and had been asked to perform a task for the vicar when the assault took place. The experience left him feeling profoundly distressed and “awful,” he said.

During the proceedings, Gibson maintained his innocence, asserting that he would not have behaved in a manner that could have damaged the reputation of the church. Despite his denial, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of two counts of indecent assault, leading to his current sentence.

Following the verdict, Ebdon expressed his feelings about the outcome. He described Gibson as “disgusting” and voiced his disappointment with the length of the sentence, stating, “The thing I’m not happy about is the sentence, 10 months for that is not a lot, but at least he’s going to prison.” Ebdon also shared a sense of relief, saying, “I now feel like a weight has fallen from my shoulders and I can get on with my life.”

This case is not Gibson’s first encounter with the law regarding sexual misconduct. In 2016, he was previously sentenced to 12 months in prison after being convicted of two counts of indecent assault. During that trial, Durham Crown Court heard evidence describing Gibson’s actions as “sinister and deliberate,” with prosecutors highlighting how he exploited his position within the church to abuse young men under his care or employment. His abuse spanned the 1970s and 1980s, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that had gone unchecked for years.

Gibson’s history of misconduct has been a source of distress for his victims, many of whom have spoken out after years of silence. One such individual, Peter Ridley from Darlington, expressed relief upon hearing of Gibson’s latest conviction. Ridley, who waived his right to anonymity, was present at Durham Crown Court when Gibson was sentenced to 12 months in prison in August, following a trial that lasted nine days. Ridley, now 80 years old, described the case as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the abuse he suffered at the hands of the former clergyman, who was once highly respected in the community but is now known for his criminal actions.