GARY TAYLOR FROM KETTERING AND MIDDLESBROUGH JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and child exploitation, Gary Taylor, a man with connections to both Kettering and Middlesbrough, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a series of illicit communications with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was communicating with was actually an undercover police officer monitoring online predators.

It was revealed that Taylor, a 52-year-old truck driver, initially made contact with the fake profile in January 2020. The profile explicitly identified itself as a young girl of just 12 years old. Over the course of several months, Taylor exchanged numerous sexually explicit messages via messaging platforms WhatsApp and Kik, which included graphic images and lewd comments. Despite the ongoing exchanges, Taylor questioned whether the girl was attempting to set him up, but he continued to pursue the conversation, even calling her to discuss the explicit images and sexual acts.

During the investigation, authorities found that Taylor had sent multiple inappropriate images and messages. At one point, he sent a naked photo of himself, accompanied by the crude question, “Do you like my ****?” He also asked the girl what she was wearing and expressed his desire to know more about her appearance, including a message where he said, “Just for you, trying to imagine what you look like in a short skirt and black tights.”

On February 14, Taylor further inquired about the girl’s activities and suggested they could have a phone conversation. The undercover officer, posing as the girl, indicated that she could sneak away during her break to speak with him. Taylor expressed suspicion, asking, “You are not setting me up are you?” and admitted to feeling nervous and worried she might be a police officer. Despite his concerns, he passed on his phone number, which the officer called during that lunchtime.

Throughout these exchanges, Taylor repeatedly asked if the girl liked the images he sent and even mentioned removing his boxer shorts, asking her what he should do next. When arrested in May, Taylor denied any wrongdoing, claiming that his Kik account was no longer active and insisting he had never knowingly engaged in sexual communication with a minor. He told police that some of the messages made him feel sick and that he could not recall the phone call, though he did not entirely rule out the possibility that he was intoxicated at the time.

His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo, presiding over the case at Northampton Crown Court, emphasized the seriousness of Taylor’s actions, noting that the conversations contained elements of grooming. The judge made it clear that even if a suspended sentence had been considered, it would not have been appropriate in this case. He highlighted Taylor’s lack of understanding regarding the harm caused to child victims and the potential impact of his actions.

As part of his sentence, Taylor was sentenced to 25 months in prison after admitting four offences. Additionally, he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, which will restrict his access to electronic devices and online platforms. Furthermore, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the same period, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from further harm.