September 2021

Paedophile vicar from Huddersfield sexually abused young girl

A paedophile vicar who sexually abused a young girl has been jailed and branded a “hypocrite” by a crown court judge having “abused the trust of so many”.

Gordon Newton, from Huddersfield, described his own crimes as “disgusting and vile” after admitting six counts of sexual assault of a child and a further three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

The 40-year-old’s mortified wife also discovered a mobile phone with horrific images of child sexual abuse and handed it over to police forcing him to admit his guilt and shame, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Julian Jones heard Newton had searched for images of young girls and boys between the ages of two and 16 and had 70 category A images on his phone – the worst kind.

One of the search terms was specifically to seek pictures of children under the age of three years old, while other searches centred around an interest in urination.

In a harrowing statement read to the court, Newton’s wife said she has had to have therapy as a result of his offending, but more shockingly had begun to question her own faith.

It read: “I no longer know what is real and what to believe anymore. I question every bit of my life. Since February, my faith has been non-existent.”

Newton, who appeared via videolink from prison wearing glasses and a blue and grey polo shirt, was jailed for six years and seven months and will serve an extended licence period of three years.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC said Newton’s position became “untenable” following the discovery of the mobile phone filled with indecent images.

He told him: “You hold yourself as a man of God, but you are nothing. You are a hypocrite.”

Judge Bayliss described his crimes as an “extremely wicked series of acts” adding that he had “abused the trust of so many others in so many ways”.

He added: “You used that child for your own sexual gratification. You placed your needs for sexual gratification of the needs and rights of an extremely vulnerable young child.”

Newton, of Cross Church Street, Huddersfield, also admitted three counts of making indecent images.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and a sexual harm prevention order was made for the same period of time.