GREGORY STANTON OF STONE SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN STAFFORD

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Stone, Gregory Stanton, aged 22, has been handed down an 11-year prison sentence following his guilty plea to multiple serious sexual offences involving minors. The sentencing took place at Stafford Crown Court, where Stanton appeared to face the consequences of his actions that spanned over a period of time.

Stanton, who was employed as a teaching assistant at the time the offences occurred, exploited social media platforms and email communication to target vulnerable children. His victims ranged in age from just 12 to 14 years old. The investigation revealed that Stanton engaged in manipulative conversations with these minors, often using false identities, usernames, and email addresses to conceal his true identity and intentions.

The police action was initiated in August of the previous year when intelligence reports indicated that a man was communicating with a 12-year-old girl, requesting her to send indecent images and videos of herself. This led to a detailed investigation by Staffordshire Police’s Child Protection and Exploitation Team (CPET). During the inquiry, authorities uncovered evidence that Stanton had been actively inciting minors to send explicit photographs, falsely claiming to be recruiting for a modelling agency to lure victims into his trap.

Initially, Stanton pleaded not guilty to all charges during a hearing on February 22. However, in a subsequent court session, he admitted to several serious offences, including making indecent photographs of a child, causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, and causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to participate in sexual activities without penetration.

Following his guilty plea, the court sentenced Stanton to a total of 11 years and four months in prison. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order has been imposed on him for a period of 10 years, restricting his activities and contact with minors. Stanton will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online exploitation and highlights the importance of vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable children from predators operating under the guise of social media and digital communication.