THOMAS GANDER'S CRIMES IN CROYDON: TEACHER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the Croydon community, Thomas Gander, a former teacher, was convicted of a series of heinous child sex offences involving multiple underage girls.The crimes, which spanned from September 2013 to November 2015, included grooming, sending explicit messages, and engaging in sexual acts with minors aged between 13 and 16.
Gander, a 32-year-old resident of Wallington Road in Waddon, was arrested in November 2015 after police uncovered evidence of his online communications with young girls.
His arrest followed a series of disturbing online exchanges and physical meetings that revealed a pattern of predatory behavior.
On the day of his sentencing at Guildford Crown Court, he received a prison term of eight years and ten months, with an additional three-year extended license period upon release.
The investigation revealed that Gander's misconduct began in September 2013 when he started messaging a 13-year-old girl online.
Over time, he moved his conversations to a messaging platform called Kick Messaging, where he continued to groom her.
Prosecutor Anthony Prosser detailed that Gander initially claimed to be 23 years old and engaged in sexually explicit conversations, asking about her development and discussing intimate topics.
On September 15, 2013, Gander met the girl at Goldalming train station, leading her into a wooded area behind the local library, where she performed oral sex on him twice that day.
Despite her initial distress, the girl agreed to meet Gander again, and in April 2014, they met in Croydon.
They first encountered outside the East Croydon station at WHSmith, where Gander attempted to arrange a hotel stay.
When that failed, they traveled to New Addington, where they again met in the woods, and she performed sexual acts on him twice more.
Further evidence was uncovered when police executed a search warrant at Gander’s home.
They found records of conversations with other schoolgirls on his computer.
One such conversation, with a 15-year-old girl, took place between April 30 and August 26, 2013.
During this exchange, Gander falsely claimed to be 23 and asked inappropriate questions about her physical development.
He also discussed going to the cinema and asked if she would wear a tight shirt, even suggesting they cuddle during a film while feeling her breasts through her clothing.
He inquired about oral sex, to which she responded that she was only 15 and not interested at that time.
This girl and Gander never met in person.
Additional online interactions included a November 2013 conversation with another 15-year-old girl, where Gander instructed her to lift her nightie and perform a sexual act while he watched online.
Between June and July 2014, he messaged a 14-year-old girl, stating that when she turned 16, he could take her anywhere.
During September and November 2015, he exchanged messages with a 16-year-old girl, offering her £30 in exchange for a sexual act, which she refused, citing prostitution laws.
Gander pleaded guilty on December 21, 2016, to multiple charges, including four counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a minor aged 13 to 17.
During sentencing, Judge Jonathan Black highlighted Gander’s attempts to manipulate the victims and his blatant disregard for safeguarding protocols.
The judge emphasized that Gander, as a teacher, should have been fully aware of the importance of protecting children but instead chose to ignore these responsibilities.
He pointed out that Gander had tried to persuade one girl to lie to cover for him and noted the significant harm caused to the victims, especially the girl he met in person.
The judge also assessed Gander as posing a high risk of serious harm due to his grooming behavior, age deception, and breach of trust.
In addition to his prison sentence, Gander was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.
This order prohibits him from deleting his computer history, using software to erase evidence, or encrypting data.
It also bans him from communicating with or being in the company of any child under 16 unless accompanied by an adult aware of the order.
Furthermore, Gander was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.
This case underscores the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in communities, especially concerning individuals in positions of trust like teachers.
The Croydon community continues to grapple with the repercussions of Gander’s actions, which have left lasting scars on his victims and serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by predators operating under the guise of authority.
