BRAMPTON MAN STEVEN GILBERSTON SENTENCED FOR GROOMING YOUNG GIRLS IN BRAMPTON AND CARLISLE

In December 2017, a man from Brampton was handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious offenses related to the sexual grooming of underage girls. The case was heard at Carlisle Crown Court, where the court learned about the disturbing actions of 39-year-old Steven James Gilberston, who was found guilty of grooming a vulnerable 15-year-old girl for sexual activity and subsequently attempting to engage two other 14-year-old girls in similar conduct through online communications.

Prosecutor Richard Orme detailed how Gilberston, who used the alias Steven Faulkes on social media platforms, targeted his first victim via Facebook and text messaging. Despite the girl explicitly stating she was only 15 years old, Gilberston persisted in his pursuit, claiming he was attracted to her and promising to make her happy. The court heard that Gilberston’s messages were relentless, with him texting her daily and asking questions like, “do you want me, do you want to stay, do you want to be with me.”

When the girl expressed her concern about her age, Gilberston dismissed her worries, saying, “Honestly, you’re not too young for me. I’m proud and pleased that you’re interested in me.” His communication was not limited to daytime; he continued to send messages throughout the night, even when she had fallen asleep, attempting to wake her up with disturbing texts such as, “I wanna do bad things to you.”

Further into the grooming process, Gilberston suggested that the girl should move in with him, become his fiancée, and even have a baby with him. He claimed to be “head over heels in love” with her, despite her age and the obvious vulnerability involved. The court was told that after she turned 16, Gilberston met her in person and engaged in sexual activity with her. This grooming and subsequent meeting came to light in June when the girl’s mother reported her missing. Police located her at Gilberston’s residence, where further investigations revealed disturbing online behavior.

Authorities examined Gilberston’s computer and discovered that he had been actively searching the internet for sexual material involving children, including early teens and young children. This evidence painted a clear picture of his predatory behavior. Just days before his arrest, Gilberston was involved in a Facebook Messenger exchange with two 14-year-old girls. During this conversation, he falsely claimed to be in his 20s and asked one girl if she would consider meeting “somebody older,” even providing her with bus times to facilitate a meeting in Brampton.

As the conversation progressed, Gilberston’s comments became increasingly perverted. He asked both girls to have sex with him, boasting that he could perform sexual acts for up to 12 hours. His actions and communications demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and predatory intent.

Gilberston, who resides on St Martin’s Drive, admitted to three charges: sexual grooming through sexual communication with a child and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The court, presided over by Recorder Michael Murray, expressed its view that Gilberston’s intentions were genuine and not merely fantasy, indicating a serious threat to public safety.

In addition to the three-year prison sentence, the court ordered that Gilberston’s name be entered onto the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely. Furthermore, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was issued, permanently prohibiting him from working with children or in any capacity that would put children at risk. The case underscores the dangers posed by online predators and highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.