PAUL GIBBINGS FROM SMALLTHORNE CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES FOR THIRD TIME

In a disturbing case that highlights a repeated pattern of offending, Paul Gibbings, a 58-year-old resident of Smallthorne, has been found guilty of possessing indecent images of children on three separate occasions over a span of 16 years. The latest incident, which occurred in 2019, involved police discovering a USB stick and a laptop containing a total of 28 images, some of which were classified as the most serious Category A images. Despite the severity of his actions, Gibbings narrowly avoided a prison sentence for this offense, receiving instead a 12-month prison term that was suspended for two years.

Details of the case were presented at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where prosecutor Antony Longworth outlined the nature of the images. He explained that among the images found, four were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of indecency, with three images at Category B and 21 at Category C. The images had been deleted from the devices, making them inaccessible at the time of discovery, but their existence was confirmed through forensic analysis.

During police interviews, Gibbings admitted that there was a possibility of additional images of girls under the age of 18 stored on his devices. He explained that he used free Wi-Fi in hotels to bypass security measures on his phone and viewed the images on his television at home. Gibbings claimed that he would view and delete the images, but also admitted to briefly viewing images of underage individuals and keeping some for later viewing through his TV. His behavior demonstrated a pattern of viewing and attempting to conceal such material.

Gibbings, who resides on Cliff Street in Smallthorne, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had previously been imposed on him. The court noted that he had previously been convicted of similar offenses in 2003 and 2012, each time completing a three-year community order. His repeated offending underscores a troubling pattern of behavior that has persisted over nearly two decades.

As part of his sentencing, Gibbings was subjected to a suspended prison sentence, which includes a 55-day rehabilitation activity requirement and participation in an accredited sex offender program. Judge David Fletcher emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “This is the third time in your life that you have appeared in court in connection with this type of offending. You simply do not seem to understand the consequences of not complying with these sorts of orders.”

Judge Fletcher acknowledged that Gibbings had shown some remorse by pleading guilty and noted that there was still potential for rehabilitation. He also imposed an indefinite SHPO and ordered Gibbings to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years.

In addition to the recent case, Gibbings’s history of offending includes a 2012 conviction, which led to a three-year community sentence after he was found with 347 indecent images of children as young as nine. At that time, he was an active member of the Trentham Running Club (TRC), regularly attending training sessions and social events, despite the nature of his charges. The club, which includes members as young as eight, has announced plans to expel Gibbings following his guilty plea.

The club’s president, Ken Rushton, explained that they had taken initial steps to distance themselves from Gibbings after his first court appearance, instructing him not to attend training sessions due to the sensitive nature of the charges and the presence of minors. He stated, “We wrote to Paul following his first court appearance. We knew he was innocent until proven guilty, but we asked him not to attend training, due to the nature of the charges and the fact we have a junior section. To be fair, we haven’t seen him since.”

However, some members, including Ian Yates, a 37-year-old runner from Flash, expressed dissatisfaction with the club’s handling of the situation. Yates resigned after 15 years of membership, criticizing the club for not acting swiftly enough and for failing to communicate effectively about Gibbings’s conviction. Yates voiced concerns that the club’s indecision could negatively impact his personal life, particularly his plans to adopt with his wife, Claire. He stated, “I don’t think they’ve dealt with this very well. When members have asked questions they haven’t answered them. As soon as the verdict was delivered they should have said he was no longer a member of the club.”

Gibbings was also handed a 10-year order to prevent him from engaging in further sexual offenses, and he remains on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a decade. His case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities and communities in dealing with repeat offenders involved in child exploitation and abuse.