MICHAEL GILL OF PENZANCE CONVICTED AT TRURO CROWN COURT FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES

In August 2008, a young man’s admission to a probation officer about his obsessive sexual attraction to a boy caused concern among the judiciary at Truro Crown Court.

Michael Gill, 19, who is currently bailed to live with his grandparents in Illogan but originally from Gulval near Penzance, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual touching the boy along a narrow pathway from a school. He also admitted to making two indecent photographs of children.

Prosecutor Ron Ede described the incident, stating, "Gill followed the boy and grabbed him by his shoulders and arm. The boy then ran home, distressed and crying, to his mother."

While noting that "there was no overtly sexual contact in the touching," Mr. Ede emphasized the seriousness of the case, saying, "What makes this serious is the admitted intent of the defendant. Gill told police he had not intended to hurt the boy but revealed he had befriended him and, to some extent, become obsessed."

Gill admitted he had spoken to the boy five or six times and had given him a chocolate bar. He disclosed that he watched the boy daily for a month and fantasized about him, which led Gill to masturbate. He admitted his fantasies involved sexual acts and desired the boy to resist them.

Mr. Ede further noted that Gill, an intelligent young man with no prior convictions, recognized his actions as wrong. He confessed he had contemplated taking the boy somewhere to engage in sexual activity. There was another contact about two weeks later, during which Gill told the boy, "I am going to get you."

Regarding the indecent photographs, Mr. Ede indicated they were minor and would likely have resulted in a caution and a requirement to register as a sex offender.

The case took a serious turn when a probation officer reported that Gill had made contact with another boy, a matter that was still under police investigation.

Judge Paul Darlow described Gill’s admissions as "troubling" and said that the issue of whether Gill posed a danger to the public would need further investigation.

Robin Smith, defending Gill, suggested that these admissions might have been a cry for help, highlighting that Gill’s parents wanted him to receive appropriate assistance.