MARK GADSBY FROM ASHBOURNE SENTENCED FOR YEARS OF ABUSE IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Ashbourne, Mark Gadsby, a man in his early forties, has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young boy. The victim, who was only 13 years old at the time, bravely came forward to recount the prolonged physical and emotional abuse he endured over several years at the hands of Gadsby.

Gadsby, a former bus driver from Cross Side in Ashbourne, targeted the young boy during his employment as a school bus driver. The predator began his grooming process by bombarding the victim with persistent text messages while he was still attending school, always seeking opportunities to meet up outside of school hours. His manipulative tactics aimed to establish a sense of trust and dependency, which he exploited for his own depraved purposes.

During the period of abuse, Gadsby, who was in his twenties at the time, used his position of authority and trust to lure the boy into dangerous situations. He would give the victim lifts in his Ford Fiesta Zetec Sport and on the school service bus he drove, gradually escalating his predatory behavior. The abuse culminated in Gadsby taking the boy to a remote country lane in Staffordshire, where he forced him to perform sexual acts on multiple occasions. These assaults left the victim physically injured and in pain for weeks afterward, yet Gadsby continued his assault regardless of the suffering inflicted.

The abuse was not confined to the secluded country lane. Gadsby also committed acts of sexual violence in other locations, including public toilets and even within the confines of his own home in Ashbourne, where he shared a residence with his mother. During these assaults, the victim was subjected to physical pain and emotional trauma, which he has carried with him into adulthood. The victim later described the profound impact of the abuse, stating, “I do get upset about it still and I just think why did he need to do that?”

He further explained the controlling and frightening nature of Gadsby’s behavior, saying, “It’s just the way of how controlling and overpowering and how frightened he made me feel but why would someone want to do that to someone who’s 13-14 years old. He was just a big fat sweaty person, no one else would look at him, at 21 years old he should’ve been going out Friday/Saturday nights and doing whatever he possible could, not targeting a 13-year-old.”

Beyond the physical abuse, Gadsby also groomed the victim emotionally and threatened to reveal their secret, further manipulating him into silence and compliance. The victim endured years of suffering, which severely disrupted his teenage years and continued to affect him well into adulthood. It was only after a long period of silence that he finally found the courage to report the abuse.

Gadsby appeared before Derby Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of buggery, six counts of gross indecency with a boy under sixteen, and two counts related to indecent images of children found on his mobile phone. The court heard evidence of the indecent images, which contributed to the severity of his sentencing.

On Monday, 3 April, Gadsby was sentenced to six years in prison. In addition to his incarceration, he was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Ashbourne, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from predators like Gadsby.