KINSLEY WARNAKULASURIYA, GLOUCESTER SEX OFFENDER, SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS

In July 2014, Kinsley Warnakulasuriya, a 47-year-old Gloucester man, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses involving minors. The court heard that Warnakulasuriya, who had recently been removed from the sexual offenders register just nine days prior, contacted a 17-year-old girl and manipulated her into sending indecent images of her 10-year-old sister to him.

Prosecutor Simon Goodman explained that Warnakulasuriya was already subject to notification requirements following a 2009 conviction for making indecent images of children. Sheriff Jamie Tabor QC remarked that Warnakulasuriya’s actions indicated he was potentially dangerous to children and caused significant harm, especially noting the damage to the young girl involved.

Warnakulasuriya, a church-going individual residing on Blenheim Road in Tredworth, convinced the teenage girl that taking pictures of her younger sister would demonstrate her love for him. The girl falsely claimed to her sister that the photos were for a school project, but she was later devastated by her actions. Days after sending the images, Warnakulasuriya met the girl and engaged in sexual activity with her at an organized flat.

He faced seven counts of taking indecent pictures of the 17-year-old during this meeting on November 22, 2013, and was convicted on all counts despite denying them. Additionally, he was convicted of four charges of inciting the 10-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity by persuading her to take the photos, and six counts of possessing indecent images of children, including those of the younger sister.

Despite the jury's findings of guilt, Warnakulasuriya displayed no remorse. Instead, he expressed a desire to continue seeing the teenager and believed a future relationship was possible. Judge Tabor sentenced him to six years in prison with an extended two-year license period and imposed a restraining order preventing contact with the girls or their family members.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Tabor stated, “I find that you are potentially dangerous to children. You have caused great damage—this young girl has been psychologically harmed—and she will struggle for the rest of her life. Her community shows little sympathy for her, and she may find life very difficult, especially the younger sister who may be too young to understand what has happened. You show no remorse and planned this grooming, not just of the 17-year-old, but of her younger sister.”

Warnakulasuriya, who moved to the UK from Sri Lanka in 2007, is also set to face deportation upon release from custody and will be required to pay a victim surcharge. During the trial in June 2014, it was revealed that Warnakulasuriya had previously been convicted and registered for offenses related to indecent images of children since 2009, when he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.

He had also attempted to fight the prosecution’s efforts to seize his computers and hard drives containing illegal images. Warnakulasuriya stated, “I have lost everything and come here with no money or job. This is the property my children can use. My children have lost everything, including family pictures. It’s okay destroying me, but let them keep their memories. I am a single man and everything is against me. I have to go to the guillotine. I am like a lamb to the slaughter.” To this, Judge Tabor responded, “You say your children have suffered—that is not the police’s fault; it is entirely your own doing.”