LEWIS GIBSON FROM AMLWCH JAILED AGAIN FOR BREACHING COURT ORDERS IN CAERNARFON

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about the supervision of convicted sex offenders, Lewis Gibson, a 36-year-old resident of Queen Street in Amlwch, has been sentenced to additional time behind bars for violating court-imposed restrictions designed to protect children.

Gibson was brought before Caernarfon Crown Court where he admitted to two separate breaches of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). The first breach involved having unsupervised contact with a young girl in her bedroom, an act that was explicitly prohibited under the terms of his court order. The second breach related to his failure to inform authorities of a change in his residential address, which is a legal requirement for individuals under such orders.

The court heard that the original order was issued in January 2013, following Gibson’s previous conviction for making and possessing indecent images of children. At that time, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The current breaches occurred years later, with the court noting that Gibson had been subject to a seven-year order that strictly limited his interactions with minors and his living arrangements.

During the hearing, prosecutor David Mainstone emphasized that this was not Gibson’s first violation of the court’s directives. He pointed out that in October 2014, Gibson had been sentenced to 12 months for similar breaches, underscoring a pattern of non-compliance.

Judge Huw Rees, presiding over the case, expressed his concern about the risks posed by Gibson’s actions. He stated, “The orders were made to protect children,” and emphasized that the breaches demonstrated a disregard for these protective measures. The judge noted that Gibson had contact with a teenage girl, albeit for a brief period, which was a clear violation of the restrictions.

The court detailed that Gibson had formed a relationship with a woman living near Caernarfon last year. From July onwards, he spent considerable time at her residence, which was located near a house where two children resided. Despite this, Gibson failed to notify the authorities of his change of address, breaching the legal requirement to do so.

One specific incident was highlighted where, in October of the previous year, Gibson had unsupervised contact with a child for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. During this encounter, he was in her bedroom and was showing her card tricks. Although no illegal acts occurred during this visit, the court found that this contact was a breach of the court order.

In light of these violations, Judge Rees sentenced Gibson to two years in prison. The judge underscored the importance of adhering to court orders meant to safeguard children and expressed concern about the potential risks posed by Gibson’s repeated breaches. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in monitoring and enforcing restrictions on convicted offenders, especially in communities like Amlwch and Caernarfon where such incidents have raised alarm among residents and authorities alike.