August 2022

Pervert subjected girl aged between 10 and 11 to sexual assaults

A man who subjected a girl then aged between 10 and 11 to a series of sexual assaults for more than a year in West Sussex has now been sentenced to seven year prison sentence.

Gavin Wright, 50, now of Norfolk Way, Uckfield, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court on 2 August having been convicted of six sexual assaults and for possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Detective Constable Ellen Jones of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: “Wright came to know the young and vulnerable girl whilst living in East Grinstead, gradually gained her confidence and then systematically abused her for his own sexual gratification.

“When we arrested Wright we found in his possession vile indecent images of children being abused.

“While we were investigating his sexual assaults, our colleagues in the force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) were investigating his more recent though completely unrelated online activities.

They had found that another sex offender was messaging him and sending these images who he then sent on to others.

“So he received four-and-a-half years for the sexual assaults and an additional two-and-a-half years for the online offending.

“He will also be a registered sex offender for life, and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further notice, severely restricting his access to children and digital devices.

“In addition he was given a court Restraining Order prohibiting him from any contact with his victim.”