NICHOLAS GULLY FROM ROTTINGDEAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON SCHOOLBOY AT HOVE LEISURE CENTRE

In a case that has shocked the local community and brought to light the dangers posed by individuals abusing positions of trust, Nicholas Gully, a 48-year-old sex therapist from Eley Crescent in Rottingdean, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 17 years for the heinous crime of raping a 14-year-old boy. The incident took place at the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove, where the young victim was simply waiting for his mother to pick him up after a day of leisure activities.

According to court reports, Gully deliberately targeted the boy after noticing him in the communal area of the leisure centre’s reception. The predator then engaged in manipulative behavior by pretending to be on a phone call, during which he made inappropriate comments, calling the boy “sexy.” This calculated act of grooming caused the boy to become frightened, prompting him to seek refuge in a nearby toilet cubicle. It was within this confined space that Gully seized the opportunity to assault the young boy.

Gully was subsequently convicted of raping the 14-year-old and was found responsible for two additional sexual assaults against the same victim. The court heard that the former therapist’s actions were premeditated and malicious, reflecting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. As part of his sentence, Gully will be registered as a sex offender for life and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which imposes strict restrictions on his contact with children under the age of 16.

Legal proceedings revealed that Gully, a father of two, had plans to leave the United Kingdom for Thailand just two days after the assault, indicating an attempt to evade justice. During the sentencing at Hove Crown Court, Judge Henson criticized Gully for refusing to provide a DNA sample upon arrest on January 31, describing this refusal as a deliberate attempt to hinder the investigation and avoid accountability.

The court also learned that Gully’s criminal behavior extended beyond the immediate incident, raising concerns about his potential threat to other young people. The victim’s mother delivered an emotional statement, condemning Gully as a “serious sexual predator” and emphasizing the devastating impact on her son and their family. She recounted how what began as a typical Sunday outing at the leisure centre turned into a nightmare, with her son being deliberately targeted and assaulted by someone he trusted.

She expressed her anguish over her son’s ongoing emotional trauma and the burden of the police investigation and court proceedings. The case has underscored the importance of vigilance and safeguarding measures in community spaces, especially when individuals in trusted roles abuse their positions to commit such grave offenses.