MANSFIELD BUS DRIVER GARETH CROWTHER JAILED FOR MOLESTATION OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN CIRENCESTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Mansfield, Gareth Crowther, a 36-year-old bus driver, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after being found guilty of grooming and molesting a 14-year-old girl from Cirencester. The incident unfolded over a period of several weeks, during which Crowther engaged in online conversations and text messaging with the young girl before ultimately meeting her in person on three separate occasions.

According to court records, Crowther initiated contact with the girl through an internet chat room, gradually building a relationship that was inappropriate given her age. The communication continued from late November 2005 until late January 2006. It was only the suspicions of the girl’s older sister, coupled with the intervention of their mother, that led to the cessation of their contact. Authorities were alerted, and Crowther was subsequently arrested and brought before Gloucester Crown Court.

During the proceedings, Crowther admitted to meeting the girl after grooming her online, and to engaging in sexual touching during their encounters. He claimed at the time of his arrest that he was unaware of her being under 16, a statement contradicted by evidence found on his computer. Investigators uncovered that Crowther’s device contained the girl’s date of birth and references to her school, indicating prior knowledge of her age.

The presiding judge, Martin Picton, was unequivocal in his condemnation. He stated, “You had no good reason to make contact with a girl of that age, to pursue that contact or to arrange to meet her. Those meetings should never have taken place and you should never have touched her sexually.”

As part of his sentence, Crowther was disqualified indefinitely from working with children and from meeting or seeking to meet girls under the age of 16. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure aimed at safeguarding the community from potential future offenses. The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance by parents and authorities to protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.