MICHAEL GWYTHER'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN EASTERTON AND WILTS: LIFE SENTENCE FOR CHILD RAPE AND ABUSE

In December 2012, a deeply disturbing case unfolded involving Michael Gwyther, a man from Easterton, who was convicted of multiple heinous crimes against underage girls. The court heard that Gwyther, aged 44 at the time, had subjected three young girls to severe sexual abuse, including repeated rapes and grooming activities that spanned over several years.

Gwyther's criminal conduct was particularly egregious, beginning when one of his victims was just 12 years old. He not only raped her on six separate occasions but also engaged in acts of inciting her to participate in sexual activities. The abuse continued until she was approximately 14 or 15 years old. Prosecutors revealed that Gwyther's depravity extended further when he took the girl to a notorious dogging site called The Barn, where she was raped by another man. During these encounters, Gwyther also recorded her on video, although the footage has never been recovered.

The case also involved two other girls, aged 14 and 15, from Westbury and Lavington respectively. Gwyther had enticed both into his vehicle on separate occasions, where he molested them. The police investigation uncovered disturbing evidence on his mobile phone, including indecent photographs and a video of one of their classmates. The mother of one of the victims discovered inappropriate messages from Gwyther on her daughter's computer, which led to her revealing that he had given her a lift in August of the previous year and had placed his hand on her leg during the ride.

Further investigation revealed that Gwyther had been grooming these girls over the internet, aiming to meet them for sexual purposes. Although the sexual encounters with the two teenagers were described as minor, the evidence pointed to a pattern of predatory behavior. The police also found explicit images and videos of another girl, who was too frightened to initially disclose the full extent of her abuse. Eventually, she confirmed that Gwyther had been raping and abusing her since she was 12, and he had taken her to a location where strangers gathered to have sex. She also recounted that Gwyther had videoed her during these encounters, but the footage remains missing.

Gwyther, residing at Haywards Place, Easterton, pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of sexual activity with a child, and three counts of making an indecent photo of a child. His defense lawyer, Marcus Davey, expressed remorse on his behalf and urged the court to impose a determinate sentence, allowing Gwyther to know his release date. However, Judge Douglas Field determined that Gwyther posed a significant risk of reoffending and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a public protection order. The judge emphasized the severity of Gwyther's actions, noting that he had engaged in increasingly serious sexual activities with the victims, starting from when they were around 12 years old.

Judge Field highlighted that Gwyther's behavior was driven by an entrenched deviance and an excessive sexual interest in underage girls. He also pointed out that Gwyther had initiated contact with other potential victims via the internet, grooming them with the intent of committing further sexual offenses. The psychological damage inflicted on the victims was profound, and the court acknowledged that their struggles to cope with everyday life would likely persist for some time.

Gwyther's sentence included a minimum term of seven years before he could be considered for parole, with 385 days deducted for time served on remand. The court's decision reflects the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to society, especially given the nature of his offenses and the vulnerability of his victims.