GAVIN LENDON OF REDBOURN JAILED FOR GROOMING YOUNG GIRLS IN HERTFORDSHIRE RUGBY CLUB SCANDAL
| Red Rose Database
Redbourn Child Sexual Abuser
On Tuesday, June 18, a rugby coach from Hertfordshire was sentenced to a 12-month prison term after being found guilty of grooming and engaging in inappropriate online communications with two young girls. Gavin Lendon, aged 52 and residing at Lords Meadow in Redbourn, appeared before St Albans Crown Court to receive his sentence following a series of disturbing allegations.
Earlier proceedings revealed that Lendon had pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a child into sexual activity, which took place between November 2017 and February 2018. The charges stemmed from his role as a coach at Harpenden Rugby Club, where he exploited his position of trust to target vulnerable teenagers. The court was informed that one of the girls endured prolonged periods of sexualized conversations, which caused significant emotional harm.
Investigations uncovered that Lendon used various social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and a chat app called Word Games, to communicate with his victims. His messages were laced with sexually explicit language, and he persistently attempted to persuade the girls to send him explicit images and to engage in sexual activities with each other. The grooming behavior was facilitated through these digital channels, with Lendon often referring to himself as ‘God’ in a private online chat group involving the two girls.
The case came to light when the father of one of the victims discovered concerning conversations on his daughter’s Facebook account. This prompted an investigation, leading to Lendon’s arrest. During police questioning, he attempted to downplay his actions, stating, “I know what this is about, it’s about one of the girls at rugby… I said I loved her, her friend saw it and thought grooming.” He insisted there was no sexual intent, claiming his actions were driven by genuine concern and a desire to help.
However, evidence presented in court contradicted his claims. The chat logs showed explicit images of women engaged in sexual acts that Lendon had sent to the girls, as well as requests for them to send similar images back to him. In one particularly troubling incident, he collected one of the victims from her school and took her to the Holiday Inn for a meal. On another occasion, they had lunch at a Toby Carvery. It was also revealed that Lendon frequently bought alcohol for the girl at the rugby club, further highlighting the inappropriate nature of his conduct.
Judge John Smith, presiding over the case, emphasized the breach of trust and the serious harm caused by Lendon’s actions. The court’s decision to imprison him reflects the gravity of grooming and online exploitation, especially involving a person in a position of authority within a youth sports environment. Lendon’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding young people from exploitation and abuse, even in seemingly innocent settings like sports clubs.
Earlier proceedings revealed that Lendon had pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a child into sexual activity, which took place between November 2017 and February 2018. The charges stemmed from his role as a coach at Harpenden Rugby Club, where he exploited his position of trust to target vulnerable teenagers. The court was informed that one of the girls endured prolonged periods of sexualized conversations, which caused significant emotional harm.
Investigations uncovered that Lendon used various social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and a chat app called Word Games, to communicate with his victims. His messages were laced with sexually explicit language, and he persistently attempted to persuade the girls to send him explicit images and to engage in sexual activities with each other. The grooming behavior was facilitated through these digital channels, with Lendon often referring to himself as ‘God’ in a private online chat group involving the two girls.
The case came to light when the father of one of the victims discovered concerning conversations on his daughter’s Facebook account. This prompted an investigation, leading to Lendon’s arrest. During police questioning, he attempted to downplay his actions, stating, “I know what this is about, it’s about one of the girls at rugby… I said I loved her, her friend saw it and thought grooming.” He insisted there was no sexual intent, claiming his actions were driven by genuine concern and a desire to help.
However, evidence presented in court contradicted his claims. The chat logs showed explicit images of women engaged in sexual acts that Lendon had sent to the girls, as well as requests for them to send similar images back to him. In one particularly troubling incident, he collected one of the victims from her school and took her to the Holiday Inn for a meal. On another occasion, they had lunch at a Toby Carvery. It was also revealed that Lendon frequently bought alcohol for the girl at the rugby club, further highlighting the inappropriate nature of his conduct.
Judge John Smith, presiding over the case, emphasized the breach of trust and the serious harm caused by Lendon’s actions. The court’s decision to imprison him reflects the gravity of grooming and online exploitation, especially involving a person in a position of authority within a youth sports environment. Lendon’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding young people from exploitation and abuse, even in seemingly innocent settings like sports clubs.