GARY SHERIDAN FROM ACCRINGTON AND MARTON SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AND COURT ORDER BREACHES IN ACCRINGTON

In a series of serious legal proceedings, Gary Sheridan, a 36-year-old man from Accrington and Marton, has faced multiple convictions related to sexual offences and breaches of court orders. His criminal history is extensive, with convictions dating back to 2017, and his recent actions have led to further imprisonment and heightened scrutiny of his conduct.

In June 2023, Sheridan was sentenced to a total of 14 months in prison after he was found guilty of breaching the conditions of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and his notification requirements. The breaches involved hiding an internet-enabled phone from police officers, despite previous court orders explicitly restricting his access to such devices. The court heard that Sheridan, of Church Street, Accrington, had previously been convicted of serious sexual offences, including a conviction in 2017 for engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl when he was 27 years old.

His criminal record also includes a 42-week sentence handed down in 2020 after he pleaded guilty to multiple violations of a sexual harm prevention order, which included having contact with two boys under the age of 16 and failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offender register. These offences occurred in Accrington between April 16 and May 16 of that year. Sheridan’s history of disobedience towards court orders has been a recurring concern, with authorities emphasizing that his recent breaches demonstrate a pattern of non-compliance.

During the recent proceedings at Burnley Crown Court, prosecutor Stephen Parker detailed how police officers visited Sheridan’s residence in January 2023. At that time, Sheridan handed over a phone that could not access the internet, and there were no issues. However, during a subsequent visit on March 28, Sheridan claimed he had lost the phone previously given to the police. Then, on May 4, police were contacted by a witness who revealed she had been communicating with Sheridan via Facebook and Snapchat since February. This witness initially did not know Sheridan’s surname because his Facebook profile was under the alias ‘Gary Gary,’ and his Snapchat account did not display his full name either.

Once she discovered his true identity through an online search, she learned about his prior convictions, which prompted her to contact the police. Further investigations led to a search of Sheridan’s flat, where a police dog uncovered a hidden phone in a communal area. Sheridan was reported to have panicked when informed that police were searching for him, admitting that “it was a stupid thing to do.”

Defense lawyer James Heyworth acknowledged Sheridan’s repeated disobedience, stating, “This is the second time Sheridan has disobeyed the court’s order and he understands there is a public interest in making it clear that breaching court orders are inevitably going to face sentences of immediate custody.” He emphasized that Sheridan had not engaged in inappropriate contact with children during these breaches but was attempting to maintain a relationship with an adult woman out of fear she might discover his past. Heyworth added, “He understands he has nobody to blame but himself.”

Judge David Temkin sentenced Sheridan to 10 months for breaching notification requirements and an additional four months for violating the sexual harm prevention order, to be served consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 14 months in prison.

Looking back at Sheridan’s criminal history, it is evident that his offences are part of a troubling pattern. In 2017, he was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, a crime that led to a sentence of over six years in prison. The court heard that Sheridan, then 27, had used social media platforms such as Facebook to establish a relationship with the young girl. The victim’s mother expressed profound distress, stating in a victim impact statement that she felt she had “lost her little girl” and that her family carried a heavy sense of guilt.

Further details revealed that Sheridan had used multiple online aliases, including GaryPrice87 on Kik, Gary P on Fabswingers, and Venom on Liveme, a live streaming app. None of these accounts were registered with the police as required under the sex offender register. Sheridan met the mother of two children through one of these sites, and she later invited him to a barbecue at her home in Accrington. During this gathering, Sheridan spoke with her two sons, both under 16, while her 20-year-old son was present at all times. It was only later that the mother discovered Sheridan’s true identity and past convictions.

In a separate case from March 2017, Sheridan, then 30 and residing on Powell Avenue, Marton, admitted to having sexual activity with a girl aged just 13 between January 12 and February 21, 2015. The girl’s mother found a list of names and ages, including Sheridan’s, which raised suspicions. Police investigations uncovered that Sheridan had driven the girl to a remote country lane where the offences occurred. The court heard that Sheridan’s actions caused significant emotional distress to the victim’s family, with her mother stating she felt she had “lost her little girl.”

In addition to his sexual offences, Sheridan has a history of other criminal activities, including fraud, driving offences, and assaulting police officers. He is currently barred from working with vulnerable people and has been subjected to a six-year driving ban. His criminal record underscores a pattern of risky and unlawful behaviour, which continues to pose a threat to the community in Accrington and Marton.