KIRK GIBSON FROM CARNFORTH AND KENDAL EXPOSED AS PREDATOR IN SHOCKING CASES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Kirk Gibson, a man with ties to Kendal and Carnforth, has been at the center of multiple criminal investigations involving sexual offenses and online grooming. His actions have shocked local communities and prompted significant legal repercussions.

One of the most notable cases unfolded in August 2019, when a young mother from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Alice Rutherford-Hyde, took extraordinary steps to protect a vulnerable 15-year-old girl from Gibson, who was then 31 years old. Gibson had previously resided in Kendal and Carnforth, and his criminal history included a conviction for sexual activity with a minor in 2012.

Gibson’s criminal behavior came to light when he hijacked Alice Rutherford-Hyde’s social media profile, using her name and images to create a fake account. Under the guise of being a female, he engaged in online grooming, targeting a teenage girl who was unaware of his true identity. Over several weeks, he manipulated her into engaging in illegal online conversations, attempting to establish a relationship that could have led to meeting in person.

The young girl, who was only 15, was vulnerable and unaware of the danger she was in. It was only when she reached out to Miss Rutherford-Hyde, seeking help, that the truth was uncovered. Miss Rutherford-Hyde, a 23-year-old mother of one, decided to maintain a cautious dialogue with the girl, all the while alerting her family and law enforcement authorities. Her quick thinking and persistence played a crucial role in preventing Gibson from meeting the girl and causing further harm.

During her online interactions with Gibson, Miss Rutherford-Hyde managed to obtain his photograph and phone number, which proved instrumental in his subsequent arrest. Gibson, who was residing at Pategill Road at the time, was detained by police, admitted to child sex crimes, and was sentenced to six years in prison in May.

Following his conviction, the court recognized Miss Rutherford-Hyde’s bravery and vigilance. Judge James Adkin commended her for her “alertness, diligence, and persistence,” which led to the identification and exposure of a dangerous sex offender. During a ceremony at Carlisle Crown Court, she was formally awarded for her actions. The judge emphasized that her determination and public-spiritedness had potentially saved the victim from long-term trauma, stating, “By her determination and public spiritedness, she saved that victim from potentially significant, long-term trauma, and for that she should be rightly praised and rewarded.”

Miss Rutherford-Hyde expressed her surprise at receiving the award, humbly stating, “I still don’t think I did anything more than anybody else should have done. I’m glad it had a good ending.” She also described her feelings about Gibson’s offending as “horrified and sick to my stomach.”

Gibson’s criminal history predates this incident. In 2012, while living on Appleby Road in Kendal, he was convicted of having sex with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl. Later, he resided on Scotland Road in Carnforth. His pattern of offending continued, as evidenced by the 2019 cases, where he used social media platforms to groom and exploit minors.

In May 2019, Gibson, then living in Penrith, was again brought before the court, this time for hijacking a social media profile to access a 15-year-old victim. Prosecutor Jon Close detailed how Gibson impersonated a young girl on a platform designed for users aged 14 to 18, engaging in weeks of grooming. He persuaded the girl to share intimate images and even discussed the possibility of meeting at her school prom, suggesting they could have sex afterward. The case was brought to light when the real owner of the hijacked profile discovered the deception and contacted police.

Gibson admitted to four charges: inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, encouraging or commissioning the distribution of indecent images, and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. His address at the time was listed as Scotland Road, Carnforth. Judge Peter Davies sentenced him to six years in prison.

His criminal record also includes the 2012 conviction for sexual activity with a minor, which resulted in his imprisonment and a court order to register as a sex offender. During that trial, evidence was presented that Gibson had used Facebook to contact the girl, asking her to have sex with him. He claimed he believed she was at least 16, the age of legal consent, but the jury found his claims unconvincing. Police investigations revealed that Gibson had searched online for information about the legal consequences of having sex with an underage girl, indicating prior awareness of his illegal actions.

Throughout these cases, Kirk Gibson’s name has become synonymous with predatory behavior, with his criminal activities spanning multiple locations in Cumbria, including Kendal, Appleby Road, and Carnforth. His repeated offenses highlight a troubling pattern of exploiting vulnerable minors through both physical and online means, prompting ongoing concern within the communities of Carnforth and Kendal.