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DAVID GITTINS FROM HOLYWELL AND WINSFORD FACES TRIAL OVER INTERNET BREACHES AND SEXUAL OFFENCES
In November 2022, a man from Winsford, identified as David Gittins, was scheduled to stand trial after allegedly violating a court-ordered restriction related to his online activity. Gittins, aged 37 and residing in Curzon Court, was accused of deleting his internet browsing history during a period spanning from June 24 to October 26 of that year. This act was considered a breach of a sexual harm prevention order issued by Chester Crown Court on June 13, which explicitly prohibited him from deleting or tampering with his internet records.Gittins’ criminal history is extensive, having been sentenced to four years in prison in 2010 for a total of 14 sexual offences. As part of his sentence, he was permanently barred from using various internet-based services, including online chat platforms, to prevent further misconduct. Despite these restrictions, Gittins was caught engaging in online conversations with an undercover police officer on two different platforms—Wink and Snapchat—between May 19, 2021, and April 8, 2022. These actions constituted a clear breach of the court’s orders and led to further legal proceedings.
During a hearing at Chester Magistrates’ Court on October 28, Gittins’ case was transferred to Chester Crown Court for a full trial scheduled for November 11. The prosecution highlighted that Gittins’ actions violated the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order, which included five specific restrictions, one of which forbade him from using any online chat facilities. The evidence presented indicated that over an 11-month period, Gittins engaged in conversations on Wink and Snapchat, attempting to generate sexualized dialogue. Notably, he sent a fully clothed photograph of himself to the undercover officer and became suspicious when the officer disclosed their age.
In a related incident from June 2022, Gittins was also found to have breached his order by using Snapchat, a popular social media platform. Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell explained that Gittins’ actions involved chatting with an undercover officer on two platforms, which was a direct violation of the court’s restrictions. Although no sexual offence was committed during these interactions, the breach was significant enough to warrant legal action. Judge Simon Berkson, presiding over the case, acknowledged the seriousness of the breach but also expressed optimism about Gittins’ potential for rehabilitation. He noted Gittins’ prior convictions from 2010, when he was 25, and recognized that Gittins had since turned his life around, securing employment and demonstrating remorse.
Despite the breach, Judge Berkson ordered Gittins to serve a 12-month custodial sentence, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, Gittins was required to complete a 30-day rehabilitation program, emphasizing the court’s hope for his reintegration into society without further incident.
Gittins’ criminal record is marked by a particularly disturbing case from September 2010, when he was a former firefighter and youth leader in Pentre Halkyn, Holywell. At that time, he was convicted of grooming teenage fire cadets aged between 15 and 16, primarily male, whom he befriended during fire cadet meetings in Cheshire. Gittins exploited his position of trust by sending explicit images, engaging in webcam sessions, and inviting the boys to his home, where he offered alcohol and encouraged sexual activity. He also used social media and instant messaging to further his predatory behavior.
Police investigations uncovered 155 indecent images on Gittins’ computer, many involving the cadets, including images where he superimposed the face of a 16-year-old boy onto explicit material. He also exchanged explicit images with a non-cadet 16-year-old boy. Prosecutor Owen Edwards described Gittins as a sexual predator whose actions caused significant distress and confusion among his victims. The court heard that Gittins had used his professional role to manipulate and exploit vulnerable young boys for his own sexual gratification.
Judge Elgan Edwards condemned Gittins’ conduct as “disgraceful” and emphasized the breach of trust involved. He sentenced Gittins to four years in prison, highlighting the severity of his misconduct and its devastating impact on the victims and their families. The court also mandated that Gittins be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, banned from using computers or the internet except for work purposes, and prohibited from working with children or having contact with any of the victims. These measures reflect the court’s determination to prevent further harm and to uphold the safety of minors in the community.