June 2017

Shelton sex offender, 23, sent Valentine’s Day letter to girl – from his prison cell

Sex offender Scott Gibbons sent a schoolgirl a Valentine’s Day letter – from his prison cell.

The 23-year-old was banned from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the father-of-two had been in contact with two girls while in prison. He then sent the love letter to one of them.

It contained words like ‘babe’ and ‘amazing’ and included a request for the girl’s phone number.

Now Gibbons, of Boughey Road, Shelton, will remain behind bars for four months longer after he admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Read more: Bar owner’s licence revoked after he served underage customers

The five-year order had been imposed when he was jailed in September 2015 for a variety of offences, including sexual activity with a child. At the time, he was sent to prison for three years and eight months and was due to be released this September.

Peter McCartney, prosecuting, said concerns were raised last October when the sexual management offender unit found out he had been in touch with the girls who were under 18.

Staff at Ashfield Prison, in Gloucestershire, were made aware of the issue.

Mr McCartney said the defendant ‘lost his privileges’ as a result. But unbeknown to staff, he then made contact with one of the girls again.

He sent a letter to her former address, which was opened by the teenager’s mother on February 14. The woman then read it to her daughter.

“She broke down and asked her to contact the police,” added Mr McCartney. “The girl claimed the contact from the defendant was causing her stress and anxiety. She was petrified.”

The following day, the police were informed. Gibbons admitted sending the letter

Sentencing the defendant for breaching the order, Judge Paul Glenn said he had persisted, despite knowing he was not supposed to have any contact with her.

September 2015

Father-of-two jailed for having sex with a schoolgirl

Father-of-two Scott Gibbons has been jailed after he had sex with a schoolgirl.

The 20-year-old drug user’s DNA was discovered in his victim’s underwear after she confessed their relationship was sexual.

And when police went to arrest him, Gibbons barricaded himself in the loft of his home.

He was then issued with a restraining order on but breached it by:

• Calling the girl 40 times from Dovegate Prison;

• Riding his bicycle past her grandma’s house and looking into the window;

• Ringing the care home where she was staying and pretending to be her uncle.

Now Gibbons has been jailed for three years and eight months.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Gibbons was 20 when he formed a relationship with the girl.

The victim’s mum called the police and a child abduction warning notice was issued which prevented him having contact with the teenager.

But the defendant breached the order by texting and calling the girl and visiting her grandma’s home.

Prosecutor Delroy Henry said the child abduction warning notice was issued on January 19 before the girl went to live with her grandma. But on February 2 the teenager started to sneak out to see the defendant.

The girl was placed in foster care and later made a statement that she had been in a sexual relationship with the defendant.

Police arrested Gibbons at his Norton home on March 20 after he shut himself in the loft.

He was handed the restraining order on April 22 but breached it by calling her from prison on June 19; cycling past her grandma’s home on July 18 and 19; and ringing her care home pretending to be a relative on July 21.

Gibbons, now aged 21, of Boughey Road, Shelton, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and three charges of acting in breach of a restraining order.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Gibbons said the dad has learning difficulties and is immature.

Judge Paul Glenn made Gibbons the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which bans him from living with any person under the age of 18 unless with approval from social services.

He is also banned from having any unsupervised contact with under-18s and from having contact with his victim.

Judge Glenn told Gibbons: “The only regret you seem to have is for the effect it has had on you. You show no victim awareness or empathy.

“You abuse alcohol and drugs. You represent a significant risk of serious harm.

“You repeatedly and flagrantly breach court orders, even when in custody.”