Simon Gerrard 54

Description

A paedophile preyed on children in Sefton Park and at a Butlin's holiday park.

Simon Gerrard raped and sexually abused one victim and assaulted another during a course of sickening attacks in the 1990s and 2000s. He was yesterday described by a judge as "dangerous offender" as he was handed a lengthy spell behind bars.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday afternoon that the now 53-year-old subjected a boy to a campaign of rape and sexual assault over the course of several years. Gerrard, of Cherry Tree Lane in Aughton, was in his late 20s at the time.

David Polglase, prosecuting, had previously described during a trial that he instructed the youngster to perform sexual acts on him and performed sex acts on the complainant himself. One such incident occurred in Sefton Park.

Reading a victim impact statement to the court, he described how he still regularly suffers from flashbacks and nightmares as a result of Gerrard's vile crimes. He added: "These crimes have shattered my sense of security and safety.

"To this day, I live in fear and anxiety. I have been forced to live with these memories and consequences for most of my life."

Gerrard was said to have told him "not to tell anyone about it, otherwise they would both get into trouble". He also sexually assaulted a second child at a Butlin's resort.

A statement which was read to the court on her behalf said: "I should have been able to be a kid and not have a grown man do what he did to me. I didn't deserve anything that has happened to me."

Gerrard was previously handed a community order in 2018 after being caught in a paedophile hunter sting, in which he messaged a decoy account posing as a 12-year-old girl online "if she wanted to have sex". The ECHO reported at the time that he had arranged a meeting at Ormskirk Bus Station, but was confronted by group members and arrested.

The defendant was said to have a congenital brain injury which has caused "lifelong" learning and communication difficulties and left him with "significantly limited intellectual function". Fiona McNeill, defending, also told the court that her client had "developed some health issues" since being remanded into custody.

Gerrard was found guilty of 21 child sexual offences including rape, attempted rape and indecent assault by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 14 years and handed an extended five-year licence period.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "This was repeated, serious abuse over a period of about four years, which has had a profound effect on your victim's life. You always knew that what you were doing was wrong, and you were careful to do it when no witnesses would be around.

"The combination of the gravity of the offences on the indictment and the evidence of your persisting sexual behaviour towards children causes me to conclude that you represent a significant risk of serious harm to children by the commission of further sexual offences. Your limited insight and understanding of your behaviour and your tendency to deny and minimise it increase that risk.

"You represent a high risk of serious harm to children. I am satisfied that you are a dangerous offender."

Gerrard was also handed restraining orders preventing him from contacting his victims indefinitely and a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.