SHAUN GILLINGS FROM ECCLES JAILED FOR CHILD GROOMING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Eccles Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Eccles, Shaun Gillings, a 49-year-old man with no fixed address, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple serious offenses related to child exploitation and possession of indecent images.
Gillings's criminal activities spanned several months, beginning in October 2019 and culminating in his arrest in January 2020. His offending involved online grooming, sharing explicit images, and attempting to meet a young girl he believed to be only 13 years old. The court heard that Gillings had been communicating with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl named 'Daisy' via the Kik messaging app. Over the course of more than a month, he engaged in conversations that quickly turned sexual, despite her repeatedly asserting her age.
According to court reports, Gillings had sent 'Daisy' explicit photographs of himself, including a video, and had asked her not to share their conversations with anyone. On December 13, 2019, an undercover police officer, posing as 'Daisy,' initiated contact with Gillings on Kik. During their exchange, Gillings claimed to be 49 years old and initially denied the girl's age, suggesting she had mistaken him for someone else. However, 'Daisy' made it clear from the outset that she was only 13.
The conversation escalated, with Gillings complimenting her appearance and suggesting she looked older than her age. He also inquired about her relationship status and whether she liked older men. The defendant's predatory behavior was further evidenced when he sent a picture of his genitals and an explicit video to the undercover officer. He also pleaded with her to keep their interactions secret, emphasizing the need for discretion.
In January, Gillings proposed to meet 'Daisy' in person, offering to give her vouchers or money as a Christmas gift. However, he was arrested at the meeting point after arriving there, where police officers apprehended him. During a search of his mobile phone, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of material, including images of child abuse and conversations with other individuals who shared similar interests. The phone contained 174 indecent images, 22 of which were classified as the most severe category.
Further investigation revealed that Gillings had been in contact with at least three other individuals, sharing explicit images of children and discussing plans to abuse a 10-year-old girl. One of the conversations involved him offering £50 for sexual favors from a 15-year-old girl. The police also discovered a gallery of child abuse images on his device, alongside evidence of discussions with like-minded offenders.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution highlighted the extent of Gillings's depravity. Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke detailed how his offending was ongoing over several months and involved multiple victims. The police's examination of his phone revealed a deeply disturbing pattern of behavior, with images and communications that demonstrated a clear intent to exploit children.
Gillings's defense attorney, Rachel Shenton, acknowledged her client's lack of prior convictions and expressed remorse for his actions. She explained that he was working as a delivery driver at the time, which contributed to his feelings of isolation and boredom. Ms. Shenton described his initial engagement in these activities as driven by curiosity and a sense of detachment from reality, emphasizing that he had lost everything—his wife was filing for divorce, he had no contact with his two daughters or grandson, and he had forfeited his job and reputation.
In sentencing, Judge John Potter described Gillings as a 'committed paedophile' who had pursued a sexual interest in girls aged between 13 and 15. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, stating that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate given the nature of the crimes. Gillings was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and to sign the sex offenders register for life, reflecting the gravity of his offending and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Gillings's criminal activities spanned several months, beginning in October 2019 and culminating in his arrest in January 2020. His offending involved online grooming, sharing explicit images, and attempting to meet a young girl he believed to be only 13 years old. The court heard that Gillings had been communicating with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl named 'Daisy' via the Kik messaging app. Over the course of more than a month, he engaged in conversations that quickly turned sexual, despite her repeatedly asserting her age.
According to court reports, Gillings had sent 'Daisy' explicit photographs of himself, including a video, and had asked her not to share their conversations with anyone. On December 13, 2019, an undercover police officer, posing as 'Daisy,' initiated contact with Gillings on Kik. During their exchange, Gillings claimed to be 49 years old and initially denied the girl's age, suggesting she had mistaken him for someone else. However, 'Daisy' made it clear from the outset that she was only 13.
The conversation escalated, with Gillings complimenting her appearance and suggesting she looked older than her age. He also inquired about her relationship status and whether she liked older men. The defendant's predatory behavior was further evidenced when he sent a picture of his genitals and an explicit video to the undercover officer. He also pleaded with her to keep their interactions secret, emphasizing the need for discretion.
In January, Gillings proposed to meet 'Daisy' in person, offering to give her vouchers or money as a Christmas gift. However, he was arrested at the meeting point after arriving there, where police officers apprehended him. During a search of his mobile phone, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of material, including images of child abuse and conversations with other individuals who shared similar interests. The phone contained 174 indecent images, 22 of which were classified as the most severe category.
Further investigation revealed that Gillings had been in contact with at least three other individuals, sharing explicit images of children and discussing plans to abuse a 10-year-old girl. One of the conversations involved him offering £50 for sexual favors from a 15-year-old girl. The police also discovered a gallery of child abuse images on his device, alongside evidence of discussions with like-minded offenders.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution highlighted the extent of Gillings's depravity. Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke detailed how his offending was ongoing over several months and involved multiple victims. The police's examination of his phone revealed a deeply disturbing pattern of behavior, with images and communications that demonstrated a clear intent to exploit children.
Gillings's defense attorney, Rachel Shenton, acknowledged her client's lack of prior convictions and expressed remorse for his actions. She explained that he was working as a delivery driver at the time, which contributed to his feelings of isolation and boredom. Ms. Shenton described his initial engagement in these activities as driven by curiosity and a sense of detachment from reality, emphasizing that he had lost everything—his wife was filing for divorce, he had no contact with his two daughters or grandson, and he had forfeited his job and reputation.
In sentencing, Judge John Potter described Gillings as a 'committed paedophile' who had pursued a sexual interest in girls aged between 13 and 15. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, stating that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate given the nature of the crimes. Gillings was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and to sign the sex offenders register for life, reflecting the gravity of his offending and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.