GARY SPENCE FROM TILEHURST SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN READING

In a case that has shocked the local community of Tilehurst, Gary Spence, aged 20, was brought before Reading Crown Court to face serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor. The incident dates back to July 2010, when Spence, then 19, engaged in inappropriate behavior with a 13-year-old girl, whom he believed to be his girlfriend.

According to court proceedings, Spence had initiated physical contact with the young girl, including French-kissing her, and had expressed a desire to carry out a sexual act on her. The court was told that Spence was aware of her age because it was publicly available on her Facebook profile, and he had also visited her at her school, further indicating his knowledge of her underage status.

The relationship between the two appeared to be somewhat consensual in Spence’s view, as he considered himself her boyfriend. However, he had explicitly stated his intention to take the relationship further, a proposition that the girl refused. The situation escalated as Spence continued to pursue her, sending her an alarming number of messages—around 100 texts in a single day—and writing 15 letters that contained explicit requests for sexual activity.

These actions prompted concern from her parents, who became involved as the situation grew increasingly troubling. The police were eventually called in October 2010, after the girl’s family reported the harassment. Spence was issued a harassment warning at that time. Despite this, his behavior did not cease, and in April 2011, he was arrested following a family friend’s tip-off about a secret meeting between Spence and the girl. The friend’s report led to the girl’s mother being informed of the clandestine encounter.

During the court hearing, Spence admitted to kissing the girl and to writing the letters, but he insisted that no sexual activity had taken place and claimed he would not have engaged in anything sexual despite his written messages. The prosecution, led by Hilary Neville, emphasized that Spence’s knowledge of her age and his persistent contact demonstrated a clear pattern of inappropriate behavior.

Defending Spence, lawyer Graeme Logan argued that the girl had expressed deep feelings for him and suggested that this was not a case of stalking or predatory behavior but rather a complex situation involving a young girl’s emotional responses. He emphasized that Spence had been warned by police and that his actions did not constitute a serious threat.

Ultimately, Judge Zoe Smith sentenced Gary Spence to a 12-month community order, which includes supervision and a requirement to undergo counseling. The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order, forbidding Spence from having any contact with the girl, and ordered him to register as a sex offender for five years. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about safeguarding minors from inappropriate advances and the importance of legal measures to protect vulnerable individuals in the community of Tilehurst and beyond.