WORTHING PAEDOPHILE GARY SHAPLAND CAUGHT BY HUNTERS AND JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat posed by online predators, Gary Shapland, a 50-year-old man from Hertford Road in Worthing, was recently apprehended and subsequently sentenced to prison after attempting to meet a minor under false pretenses.

In July 2020, Shapland believed he was on his way to meet a young girl he thought was just 13 or 14 years old, named 'Hayley.' He had arranged to meet her in the car park of an Asda supermarket located in Worthing, with the intent of engaging in inappropriate activities. However, his plans were thwarted when he was confronted by a group of vigilant paedophile hunters known as Nameless, who had set up a sting operation to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors.

The encounter was recorded on video, capturing the moment Shapland was confronted and questioned about his intentions. Despite his initial attempt to deny his purpose there, claiming he was merely going shopping, the hunters quickly exposed his true motives. A member of the group, filming the interaction, firmly told him, “Don’t lie,” as they pressed him about his presence at the location.

Shapland eventually admitted that he was there to meet a girl he believed was 13 or 14 years old, with the intention of simply 'chilling out.' The hunters revealed that they possessed screenshots of all his conversations with three decoy profiles, which he believed belonged to underage girls. The group accused him of grooming these girls and building trust over time, with evidence indicating he had sent explicit images and messages.

In the footage shared publicly by Nameless, it was shown that Shapland, a former managing director of a car leasing company, had sent a fully naked photograph of himself to the decoys. Court documents further detailed some of the messages he had sent, including one where he described how he enjoyed running around naked in his office and suggested the girls could do the same. It was also revealed that Shapland had lost his virginity to an older woman and had told one of the decoys he was 'looking for a new friend to teach.'

Disturbingly, he also sent a sex instruction manual to the girls and left voice messages that were clearly inappropriate. The group noted that Shapland had attempted to cover his tracks by using multiple Facebook profiles, which they described as an effort to be 'clever.' His obsession with these online interactions was evident, and the group expressed concern over his intentions.

During the confrontation, Shapland opened up about his personal struggles, describing his life as 'miserable' and claiming to have been sexually abused himself. The hunters, all of whom disclosed that they had been victims of sexual abuse in their past, challenged him on his actions. They asked how he would feel if someone had asked his own daughter the same questions and made him reflect on the damage such exploitation causes.

The group also accused Shapland of waiting outside a school for three hours with the intent to meet a child he had never previously met, with plans to go into his car and try on tights. These allegations underscored the premeditated nature of his intentions.

Following the investigation, Shapland pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including attempting to communicate with a minor for sexual purposes and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. His sentencing resulted in a prison term of two years and eight months. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from further harm.