SEAN GIRDLSTONE'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN RUDGWICK AND CLAYGATE REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
Rudgwick Child Sexual Abuser
In a series of serious legal proceedings, Sean Girdlestone, a man with a disturbing criminal history linked to child exploitation, faced the consequences of his actions in courtrooms in Guildford and beyond. His criminal activities, which span multiple locations including Rudgwick and Claygate, have garnered significant attention due to the severity of his offenses and the breaches of court orders that followed.
Back in January 2013, Girdlestone, then aged 32 and residing on Loxwood Road in Rudgwick, was convicted of possessing and creating indecent images of children. The court heard that he had downloaded a total of 710 such images onto his laptop, which was seized by police during an arrest on September 7, 2010. The investigation revealed that Girdlestone was actively involved in online conversations about child abuse and had visited numerous child pornography websites. His role extended beyond online activity, as he was also a registered paediatric nurse and was involved in running a children's club called Cranfolders After School Club, based at Cranleigh Infants and Junior School. This club was operated from a rented hut on the school grounds, where Girdlestone employed several women to assist him.
Despite his professional background and the community's regard for him prior to his arrest, the court found his actions deeply troubling. Judge Neil Stewart sentenced Girdlestone to nine months in prison and imposed a ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), aiming to prevent any future offenses. The court was informed that Girdlestone had denied all charges, but the jury found him guilty unanimously after evidence was presented, including expert analysis of his laptop which confirmed his visits to child abuse websites and online conversations about such material.
Following his conviction, Girdlestone's criminal record was marked by a significant prison sentence, reflecting the gravity of his offenses. His case drew further scrutiny when, in February of the same year, he appeared at Guildford Crown Court to face additional charges related to breaching his SOPO. The breach involved failing to surrender his laptop for police inspection when requested, which was a violation of the court's strict conditions meant to monitor his activities.
During the proceedings, Girdlestone also admitted to failing to disclose information about multiple bank accounts, including those linked to clubs he operated at Cranleigh CofE Primary School, his business Great Personal Health, and prepaid credit accounts under Advance Payment Solutions. Prosecutor Graham Smith explained that Girdlestone had planned to travel in March, which prompted the probation service to request a production order for his bank details in April. When Girdlestone attended a probation appointment on July 21, he was arrested for these new violations. Although he initially provided some bank details, he failed to disclose six accounts, which included business and prepaid accounts he believed did not need to be reported.
His defense attorney, Andrew Fitch-Holland, argued that Girdlestone did not intentionally withhold information, claiming he misunderstood the nature of some accounts, particularly the prepaid card account, which he considered similar to cash or PayPal. The court, however, emphasized that Girdlestone's partial compliance was insufficient and that his failure to fully disclose bank details was a serious breach. Judge Peter Moss sentenced him to 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to pay £150 in prosecution costs. The judge highlighted that while Girdlestone's breaches did not cause direct harm, they demonstrated a lack of full cooperation with court orders and a disregard for the conditions set to protect the community.
Throughout the proceedings, Girdlestone's actions and the breaches of his SOPO have raised concerns about the effectiveness of monitoring individuals with such criminal backgrounds. His case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing offenders involved in child exploitation and the importance of strict compliance with court-imposed restrictions to prevent further harm.
Back in January 2013, Girdlestone, then aged 32 and residing on Loxwood Road in Rudgwick, was convicted of possessing and creating indecent images of children. The court heard that he had downloaded a total of 710 such images onto his laptop, which was seized by police during an arrest on September 7, 2010. The investigation revealed that Girdlestone was actively involved in online conversations about child abuse and had visited numerous child pornography websites. His role extended beyond online activity, as he was also a registered paediatric nurse and was involved in running a children's club called Cranfolders After School Club, based at Cranleigh Infants and Junior School. This club was operated from a rented hut on the school grounds, where Girdlestone employed several women to assist him.
Despite his professional background and the community's regard for him prior to his arrest, the court found his actions deeply troubling. Judge Neil Stewart sentenced Girdlestone to nine months in prison and imposed a ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), aiming to prevent any future offenses. The court was informed that Girdlestone had denied all charges, but the jury found him guilty unanimously after evidence was presented, including expert analysis of his laptop which confirmed his visits to child abuse websites and online conversations about such material.
Following his conviction, Girdlestone's criminal record was marked by a significant prison sentence, reflecting the gravity of his offenses. His case drew further scrutiny when, in February of the same year, he appeared at Guildford Crown Court to face additional charges related to breaching his SOPO. The breach involved failing to surrender his laptop for police inspection when requested, which was a violation of the court's strict conditions meant to monitor his activities.
During the proceedings, Girdlestone also admitted to failing to disclose information about multiple bank accounts, including those linked to clubs he operated at Cranleigh CofE Primary School, his business Great Personal Health, and prepaid credit accounts under Advance Payment Solutions. Prosecutor Graham Smith explained that Girdlestone had planned to travel in March, which prompted the probation service to request a production order for his bank details in April. When Girdlestone attended a probation appointment on July 21, he was arrested for these new violations. Although he initially provided some bank details, he failed to disclose six accounts, which included business and prepaid accounts he believed did not need to be reported.
His defense attorney, Andrew Fitch-Holland, argued that Girdlestone did not intentionally withhold information, claiming he misunderstood the nature of some accounts, particularly the prepaid card account, which he considered similar to cash or PayPal. The court, however, emphasized that Girdlestone's partial compliance was insufficient and that his failure to fully disclose bank details was a serious breach. Judge Peter Moss sentenced him to 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to pay £150 in prosecution costs. The judge highlighted that while Girdlestone's breaches did not cause direct harm, they demonstrated a lack of full cooperation with court orders and a disregard for the conditions set to protect the community.
Throughout the proceedings, Girdlestone's actions and the breaches of his SOPO have raised concerns about the effectiveness of monitoring individuals with such criminal backgrounds. His case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing offenders involved in child exploitation and the importance of strict compliance with court-imposed restrictions to prevent further harm.