HIGHLIGHT ON GEORGE GIBBS' LATEST CASE IN LIVERPOOL AND HIS LIFE SENTENCE

In April 2015, a Liverpool man named George Gibbs was ordered to repay thousands of pounds in damages after winning a civil claim against a national newspaper. Gibbs, 66, had successfully sued The Sun newspaper following a 2011 article that labeled him a paedophile, specifically accusing him of involvement in sexual abuse in Thailand. The story was published on March 17, 2011.

Despite his victory in civil court, Gibbs was later convicted of 26 offences against young boys in a criminal trial, leading to a life imprisonment sentence last July. The revelation prompted investigations into the financial aspects of his previous civil claim.

Gibbs, of Kremlin Drive, Tuebrook, argued he had no convictions and claimed not to be a paedophile. However, court records showed he had two previous convictions for gross indecency in 1975. After abusing boys in Bournemouth and Poole, he moved to Thailand, where he found it easier to access children.

Following a proceedings of a Proceeds of Crime hearing last year, Judge Denis Watson, QC, determined that Gibbs benefited financially by approximately £167,207 from the civil case, where he was awarded £70,000 compensation. Meanwhile, Gibbs’ legal team also incurred nearly £100,000 in costs. Evidence indicated Gibbs only had realisable assets worth £37,926, which he was ordered to pay back within two months to avoid further jail time. Gibbs was subsequently jailed for three years for fraud in December.

Judge Watson stated during the hearing: “You knew perfectly well what had gone on between 1988 and 1996 with these eight individuals that gave evidence at this court, and you knew perfectly well of the lifestyle you were living in Thailand where you regularly kept the company of young boys. This was a deliberate claim for fraud that you persisted in when you were challenged.”

In July of the previous year, Gibbs was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 11 and a half years for his historical child sex offences.

In a separate context back in July 2014, Gibbs, then aged 65, was described as a predatory paedophile who was sentenced to life for abusing eight young boys. Despite his claims of connections with Liverpool’s music and football scenes and an outward appearance of friendliness and generosity, he was revealed to be a dangerous manipulator. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Gibbs raped two boys—one repeatedly—and seduced others by supplying drugs and alcohol.

One victim, who refused Gibbs’ advances, was coerced at gunpoint into performing sexual acts. Gibbs later moved to Thailand, where he had easier access to children. His criminal history included a conviction for gross indecency in the 1970s. During his trial, he was convicted of 26 offences, including indecent assault and buggery, which would today be charged as rape. The five-week trial included accounts from victims from Bournemouth, with many describing lifelong shame and trauma. One victim said, “You preached trust, loyalty and respect but your real interest was in sordid, selfish, self gratification.”

Several victims expressed difficulty in confiding in family or friends, having buried their abuse experiences.

Judge Watson sentenced Gibbs to life, noting he must serve at least 11.5 years before consideration for parole. He remarked: “Outwardly you could be charming, generous and sociable, yet beneath this facade there was and still is a much darker, sinister, selfish and dangerous side to you. That is that you were and still are a manipulative, predatory paedophile. This was prolonged, repeated, predatory sexual conduct where you groomed and corrupted young men by drink, drugs and force. These wicked offences have caused lifelong scars.” He further condemned Gibbs’ apparent lack of remorse and his cynical attempts to manipulate the court and victims.