GARRY WARDROPPER FROM SHINEY ROW ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEX OFFENCE INQUIRY IN TEESSIDE

In October 2016, a man from Shiney Row named Garry Wardropper was involved in a disturbing incident that led to a court hearing at Newcastle Crown Court. The case centered around allegations that Wardropper had engaged in inappropriate conduct with a young girl, which resulted in his conviction for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

According to court proceedings, Wardropper, aged 32 and residing on Maple Terrace in Shiney Row, asked the young girl to touch his private parts. The incident reportedly began when Wardropper requested the girl to scratch his leg. Prosecutor Michael Tanney explained that the girl complied with this initial request, but during the act, she inadvertently touched Wardropper’s genital area. While this accidental contact was acknowledged as incidental, the court heard that Wardropper then asked her to do it again, which constituted incitement to sexual activity.

Furthermore, Wardropper then asked the girl if he could touch her, a request she declined. The court was informed that Wardropper denied the charge of inciting a child to commit sexual activity, but a jury found him guilty after a trial held earlier that year.

During the sentencing hearing, Robin Patton, representing Wardropper, provided mitigation, highlighting that the incident had already caused significant personal consequences for him. Patton explained that Wardropper’s relationship had ended as a result of the incident, and he now has limited access to his 18-month-old son. The defense also acknowledged Wardropper’s previous convictions for possessing an offensive weapon, but emphasized that he had no prior convictions related to sexual offences.

Judge Ben Nolan QC, presiding over the case, sentenced Wardropper to 18 months in prison, but with the sentence suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Wardropper was placed under a supervision order for the same period. The judge noted that the offending behavior crossed the threshold for immediate custody but chose to suspend the sentence based on several factors. These included the fact that there was no intimate touching, the incident was brief, and it was not a case involving a breach of trust. The judge also expressed the view that the victim was unlikely to have suffered lasting harm.

As part of his sentence, Wardropper was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 13 for five years. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The court’s decision aimed to balance the seriousness of the offence with the potential for rehabilitation, while prioritizing the safety of children in the community.