JOHN GIBSON FROM MIDDLESBROUGH SENTENCED FOR PERVERTED CRIMES IN COULBY NEWHAM AND ORMESBY
In June 2016, John Gibson, a convicted sex offender from Middlesbrough, was handed a lengthy prison sentence after a series of disturbing incidents involving the exposure of his genitals to young girls in the local communities of Coulby Newham and Ormesby.Gibson, aged 41 at the time, was described by prosecutors as a “significant danger to children,” prompting the court to impose strict restrictions and an extended period of supervision to safeguard the public.
According to court reports, Gibson approached three young girls aged six, ten, and eleven in the Fairy Dell park located in Coulby Newham on March 6.
During this encounter, he exposed himself and performed a sexual act in front of the children.
The young victims immediately ran home and informed their parents, with one girl reportedly so frightened that she was deterred from playing in the park again.
The incident left a lasting impact on the children and highlighted Gibson’s persistent predatory behavior.
Less than two weeks later, on March 19, Gibson was seen riding his bicycle along a cycle path in Coulby Newham.
He approached a group of children around eight years old and, once again, pulled down his trousers to expose himself.
The children, understandably alarmed, quickly left the scene and reported the incident to their guardians.
These repeated offenses demonstrated Gibson’s ongoing pattern of predatory conduct and his fixation on exposing himself to minors.
Gibson, who resides at The Crescent, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, admitted to charges of exposure and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
At the time of these offenses, he was already on license from a previous 30-month sentence handed down in August 2014, which was related to exposure and breaching a sexual offences prevention order.
His criminal history is extensive, including previous convictions for similar offenses in Middlesbrough’s communities of Ormesby and Coulby Newham, where he had shown his private parts to children by rubbing his groin over his cycling shorts and raising them to expose himself.
Gibson’s own admission to police revealed that he committed these acts for sexual gratification.
On one occasion, he even encouraged young girls to touch him, warning that “something bad would have happened” if they did not flee.
His criminal record further includes a 2011 conviction for 21 offenses of sexual activity in the presence of a nine-year-old child, as well as possession of over 3,500 indecent images of children and more than 600 extreme pornographic pictures.
These offenses underscore the severity of his predatory behavior and the danger he posed to the community.
During the latest hearing, Gibson’s defense lawyer, Gary Wood, acknowledged that his client had issues that required intervention, noting that Gibson had previously started a sex offender treatment program but had not yet acquired the necessary strategies to prevent reoffending.
Despite this, the court recognized the ongoing risk Gibson represented.
Judge Tony Briggs emphasized Gibson’s long-standing problem and his sexual attraction to prepubescent girls, stating, “It is perfectly plain from your record that you have a long-standing problem and are sexually attracted by prepubescent girls.” The judge further highlighted that assessments by relevant authorities confirmed Gibson as a “danger to children” and a “high risk of serious harm.” Consequently, Gibson was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, with a minimum of two-thirds of that sentence to be served behind bars.
Additionally, he received an extended three-year license period upon release.
The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from entering or loitering within 100 yards of any public park, and mandated that he remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
These measures aim to prevent further offenses and protect vulnerable members of the community from his predatory tendencies.
