January 2011

Businessman jailed for nine-and-a-half year after abusing girl, 13

A 61-YEAR-OLD successful businessman has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years after sexually abusing a girl, who he “groomed and manipulated”.

A jury at Grimsby Crown Court found Roger Gammidge, of Melton Ross, guilty of all seven counts against him which included five counts of indecent assault, one count of indecency with a child and one count of rape.

He will also be listed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Gammidge’s former partner, 60-year-old Judith Davison, of Horkstow, Barton, was found guilty of one count of cruelty and given a suspended sentence of four months.

Sentencing Gammidge, judge David Tremberg said that he had shown “not one iota of remorse” for his “persistent course of conduct” that had caused the teenage girl “immense harm”.

He added that the girl, who was 13 when the abuse started, had “suffered at school, home and work” and continued to struggle with what Gammidge, pictured, had done to her.

The court heard how during “an extensive course of conduct,” Gammidge had groomed and manipulated the girl, indecently assaulting her on a number of occasions, and eventually raping her.

Mr Tremberg, referring to Davison, who was said to be in poor physical health, had engaged in a “gross breach of trust”.

Sentencing Davison, to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, Mr Tremberg said he had taken into account her “positive good character”.

At the end of the trial, he thanked the jury for their assistance in what he described as a “very difficult and distressing” case.