Colne sex offender jailed for breaching suspended sentence

Paul Gibbin was jailed for 18 months suspended for two years in 2022 after striking up a conversation online with an undercover police officer, and attempting to arrange to meet his ‘11-year-old daughter’.

The meeting never took place and the child was not real, but Gibbin was charged with the offence and sentenced at Chester Crown Court in November.

Last week, Preston Crown Court heard how as part of his suspended sentence order, Gibbin was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements for the same period.

Paul Gibbin (Image: Lancs Police)

The conditions of which prevented him from being in a house with a child under the age of 18 without permission from social services, and meant he had to inform the police of his address, any devices he may have that could connect to the internet or store images, and any intentions to leave the country.

Prosecuting, Eleanor Myers said that in January, Gibbin, 67, had met a woman online and they had formed a relationship.

She said: “In February he was regularly staying overnight at the woman’s house, and she believed he had stayed there around 40 times.

“The woman had no idea he had any previous convictions and felt happy in the relationship.

“However, she had introduced him to her daughter, who had two young children and he had been in the house while they were present.

“He had also been in the car with them, had been present when they were having their nappies changed, and had been there when they had been in a paddling pool.

“This put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

“In June, he went on holiday, but had not told the relevant authorities about his travel plans.

“He had also bought a new iPhone which could store images on it, and had not told the police about this, and failed to register where he was staying with the police.”

Ms Myers said the police paid a visit to Gibbin in June and his phones were examined and they discovered he had been abroad.

The police made contact with his partner and his previous history was revealed.

Ms Myres continued: “Him not telling her about his convictions has caused her great distress and she doesn’t think she can get over the fact he had been in the presence of her grandchildren.

“She said when the news was broken to her that he was a registered sex offender, she was rocked to her core, and thought it must have been some kind of joke.

“She said she feels like she can no longer trust anyone and now has anxiety, and feels betrayed by the defendant.”

Mitigating for Gibbin, Kristian Cavanagh said his client had presented at court as “very emotional and recognised the enormity of the consequences of breaching the orders”.

Gibbin, of The Arches, Colne, has only one previous conviction.

He pleaded guilty to six breaches of his sexual harm prevention order and two breaches of his notification requirements with Recorder Mark Ainsworth saying his only option would be to activate his suspended sentence.

Recorder Ainsworth said: “You failed to comply with this order in a persistent and flagrant manner and the impact on your previous partner has been significant and the betrayal of trust is breathtaking.”

Gibbin was jailed for two years. His sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements will continue for the remainder of their duration once he is released from prison.