A FATHER of three, who was living in Mossley at the time, sexually exploited an underage teenage girl after providing her with alcohol and cigarettes.
Robert Gaskell, 29, latterly of Whiteacre Road, Ashton, was jailed for four year after pleading guilty at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, to six counts of sexual activity with a child under 16.
The court was told how Gaskell had struck up a relationship in May 2018 with the girl who was aged 15 years and four months while he was 26 at the time.
Brendan O’Leary, prosecuting, said Gaskell was aware of the girl’s age as she was wearing her school uniform when they initially met through friends and he asked how old she was.
But Gaskell went on to embark on a sexual relationship with the girl after she attended a party at his home taking alcohol, including vodka.
It also emerged the defendant offered the girl cocaine that night which she refused.
Friends of the girl were concerned about her welfare and went to check at 9.30pm and found her “very drunk”.
“She said she wanted to stay over, and the girl’s friends challenged the defendant and warned he would get into trouble,” said Mr O’Leary.
“They had sex on multiple occasions that night and the following morning and a relationship began that lasted two or three months.
“They would meet regularly after school, and also on occasions during the day, and have sex.”
The relationship ended when police became aware, and Mr O’Leary added Gaskell told the girl to lie saying they were “just good friends”.
When questioned by police, Gaskell said he assumed the girl was aged 16 or 17 and denied he was in a sexual relationship saying he was offering her “moral support”.
In a victim’s statement, the girl said she will never get over what happened.
She said: “I thought I was in a loving relationship. I was a 15-year-old child, and he was 26. It was only later I realised he was a predator.
“I met him during a tough time and when I was vulnerable. He used it to isolate me from my friends and lie to my mother saying he loved me, and we would be together for ever.
“I liked it as he made me feel special. At the time I felt besotted and blinded by her words and actions.
“He put me under pressure to keep quiet and at the time I did not see myself as a victim.”
The girl added she lost all interest in school and her attendance and work suffered while later her health suffered, and she considered self-harming.
She was later referred to a counsellor and prescribed anti-depressants.
And she continued: “After three years, I feel I cannot trust anyone and am embarrassed and so angry he put me through going to court and wouldn’t admit at the start what he did.
“There was never any remorse or apology. He is a manipulative person who never loved or cared for me.”
Andrew Evans, defending, explained there had been a “long road to this point” for Gaskell whose life had spiralled out of control.
He had qualified as a motor mechanic and lived with his partner and their three young children at her parents’ farm in Derbyshire.
But when his partner suffered mental health issues they split up and he moved back to Mossley with the three children.
Unable to cope with the children, social services became involved, and the children are now cared for by Gaskell’s parents and he had no contact with them because of Covid-19 and the impending court proceedings.
Mr Evans said: “He was a man with a trade and a future and suddenly he was living alone and prey to depression, anxiety and addiction to spice which as the court heard was why he found it hard to respond to attending earlier court hearings.
“He started a relationship which was legally, morally and entirely wrong, but I would ask the court to consider how far he had fallen and depression contributed to the enormity of what he did.”
Judge Mark Savill described what Gaskell did as “morally and criminally wrong”.
He said: “Between May and July 2018 you set out on a relationship with the girl who may have felt loved and cherished, and you may have had affections for her.
“You met through an acquaintance when she was in school uniform and you asked her age and said she would have to be careful.
“You knew you were playing with fire from the outset, but you failed to respond to warnings and let your desires get the better of you.
“Her friends fired shots across your bows, and you knew her age and you would get into trouble. You should have said no.”
After deliberation, Judge Saville added: “I take the view you took advantage on the first occasion you have sex with her as she was drunk.
“As to the disparity of age, it is not like the difference was between 50 and 20 years, but you were still not close to her age.
“You were a 26-year-old adult with a partner and children, and she was a 15-year-old. You bought her cigarettes and alcohol so there was a degree of grooming.
“You became something of a lost soul living aimlessly with excessively drinking and taking drugs and becoming addicted to spice.
“You had a history of anxiety and depression from your late teens, but you knew exactly what you were doing was wrong.
“You found it easier to have a relationship with a young girl rather than an adult relationship.”
Judge Savill added imprisonment was the only option for sentencing. He was given four years and a further 28 days to run concurrently for breaching bail conditions including failing to turn up at previous court hearings.
Seventy-six days spent under curfew will count towards the sentence.
An indefinite sexual harm prevention order has also been imposed and Gaskell will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register and a five-year restraining order has also been put in place.
Detective Constable Susan Masheter, of the Phoenix Tameside child sexual exploitation team, said: “Child sexual exploitation takes place in many forms. In this case the defendant commenced a sexual relationship with the victim, knowing full well that she was a school child.
“I would like to thank the victim for having the courage to report these matters to police and hope this result has provided her with some justice when coming to terms with what she has experienced because of the defendant’s actions.
“Greater Manchester Police will always pursue those who think it’s acceptable to pursue minors for their own sexual gain.”
Project Phoenix continues to develop Greater Manchester’s response to CSE. Visit www.itsnotokay.co.uk for information for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals on how to spot the signs of child sexual exploitation and what to do about it.