Gary Vincent Whitmore

A 47-year-old man from Kidderminster has been imprisoned for six years following his conviction for serious child sex offences committed over a period of more than six years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Gary Vincent Whitmore, of Whittall Drive East, appeared before Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC at Worcester Crown Court on 8 July 2011 for sentencing. He had been found guilty by a jury at Hereford Crown Court on 9 June 2011 after a four-day trial. Whitmore denied the charges but was convicted of one count of committing an act of gross indecency with a child and eight counts of indecently assaulting a child. The offences took place between June 1995 and December 2001 and involved two female victims whom he knew and was in a position of trust with.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Whitmore was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). The case came to light when one of the victims reported the abuse to police in February 2010, prompting an investigation by Kidderminster CID that led to the identification of the second victim.

Detective Constable Shelley Aplin of West Mercia Police commented on the case, stating: "These were vile offences committed by a man who was in a position of trust with these children and abused that. They are crimes that have had a lasting and deep impact on his victims." She praised the bravery of the victims, noting that the first came forward out of concern for other children, and highlighted the ordeal they endured by giving evidence in court due to Whitmore's denial of the charges. DC Aplin added: "The victims are pleased that justice has finally been served and that Whitmore will be behind bars for a considerable time. They also feel that they have closure for themselves and can now move on with their lives."

The investigation was conducted by West Mercia Police, and the outcome underscores their commitment to pursuing such cases, with DC Aplin hoping it encourages other victims to come forward. The article, originally published by BusinessLive on 12 July 2011 and updated on 30 May 2013, details the full context of the prosecution and sentencing.