KEVIN GAMBLE FROM SCARBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY SEX OFFENSES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS

In April 2011, Kevin Gamble, a man from Scarborough, was sentenced to an indefinite prison term after being found guilty of a series of disturbing sexual offenses involving underage girls. The case revealed a pattern of manipulative and predatory behavior by Gamble, who targeted vulnerable young females in the North Yorkshire seaside town.

Gamble, who resided on Columbus Ravine in Scarborough, was described by law enforcement as a “sexual predator” due to his calculated efforts to lure young girls into sexual relationships. The court heard that he employed false identities and lied about his age to gain the trust of his victims, many of whom were minors. His actions came to light after a lengthy investigation that uncovered his disturbing pattern of behavior.

According to court records, Gamble’s criminal activities resumed shortly after his release from prison in 2008. He had previously served time for having sexual relations with two underage girls, a conviction that did not deter him from continuing his predatory conduct. Less than three years after his release, Gamble engaged in sexual encounters with a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, whom he met along the Scarborough seafront. These encounters further underscored his persistent targeting of young girls in the area.

Adding to his list of offenses, Gamble also pursued a 13-year-old girl after obtaining her phone number from the mobile phone of one of his earlier victims. Over a period of six months, he made more than 200 phone calls and sent nearly 1,500 text messages to her. His messages included explicit content and invitations to meet, as well as requests for her to send him indecent photographs of herself. The victim’s mother was visibly distressed during the court proceedings, tearfully recounting how Gamble’s relentless harassment had traumatized her family.

The investigation was triggered when the 14-year-old victim confided in police about her ordeal. Further inquiries into Gamble’s mobile phone activity led to his eventual confession. During interviews, Gamble attempted to justify his actions by claiming that previous participation in a sex offender’s program had somehow heightened his interest in underage girls, a defense that was dismissed by the court.

At the hearing, Gamble appeared in court dressed in a blue sweatshirt, showing little remorse for his actions. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual activity with two underage girls and harassment of a third victim. His defense attorney, Richard Thompson, acknowledged that there was limited mitigation for his client’s behavior. The presiding judge, Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, sentenced Gamble to an indefinite term of imprisonment, with a minimum of four years before parole eligibility. The judge emphasized the severity of Gamble’s conduct, stating, “Your offenses are part of a very extensive pattern. You cruised around Scarborough seafront where you tried to gain the confidence of what were gullible young girls. This is set against a background of a man with a voracious sexual appetitive targeting girls.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Gamble was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. Detective Sergeant Mike Moorhouse of North Yorkshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit praised the bravery of the young victims who came forward, saying, “I would like to acknowledge the bravery of the young girls who made statements and committed themselves to giving evidence so that other girls wouldn’t suffer as they did. Gamble is a sexual predator and a deviant with an obsession with underage girls, and his sentence reflects that.”