ANDREW GORDON FROM WITTON GILBERT SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN NEWCASTLE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Andrew Gordon, a resident of Witton Gilbert, was convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young girl from Newcastle. The incident came to light after Gordon, who had previously been convicted of possessing an indecent photograph in 2004, failed to adhere to the strict conditions of his sex offenders' registration.

Back in 2004, Gordon was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years following his conviction for taking an indecent photograph. As part of this legal requirement, he was mandated to inform authorities of his current address and any other locations he frequently visited. However, during the recent court proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court, it was revealed that Gordon had deliberately failed to comply with these obligations. This failure allowed him to secretly visit the home of a single mother and, ultimately, to target her nine-year-old daughter for sexual abuse.

The court heard that Gordon, aged 36 at the time of the offenses, admitted to four counts of sexually assaulting the young girl. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to failing to update his registration details, which was a breach of the legal conditions imposed upon him. Police investigations also uncovered that Gordon possessed eight indecent photographs of children, which were discovered on his computer during a raid on his residence.

During police interviews, Gordon openly admitted to having a sexual attraction towards children, describing his condition as a problem and stating, “I am ill.” His frankness was noted by authorities, but it did little to mitigate the severity of his crimes.

Gordon’s defense lawyer, Tony Hawks, addressed the court, highlighting that his client had been subjected to vigilante attacks while on bail, which had further tarnished his reputation within the local community. Mr. Hawks emphasized that Gordon had been honest with both police and probation officers, acknowledging that he had deliberately kept his visits to the girl’s home a secret. He explained that Gordon was aware that if his visits had been disclosed, authorities would have taken steps to prevent further contact, especially considering the presence of the young girl in the household.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Cartlidge condemned Gordon’s failure to act responsibly and protect the young girl. He sentenced him to three years in prison and ordered that he be registered as a sex offender for life. The judge also imposed a ban on Gordon ever working with children or having any contact with minors under the age of 16.

Judge Cartlidge stated, “He should have explained he was a sex offender, he should have told the mother of the child and he should have told the police where he was. He failed, and this failure led to the child being unprotected from his sexual advances.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of compliance with legal obligations and the devastating consequences when offenders breach these responsibilities.