Gary Sheilds

Gary Sheilds, a 37-year-old man of no fixed address, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the rape of a girl under 13 and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The offences occurred in Lancashire, England, after Sheilds groomed the victim online.

In January 2024, Sheilds began communicating with the 12-year-old girl on TikTok, complimenting her and building a rapport. They soon exchanged phone numbers and continued their interactions via WhatsApp, Snapchat, and video calls. Although Sheilds was living in Scotland at the time, he arranged to meet the girl on 2 February 2024 in Penwortham, Lancashire. He drove her to a nearby car park, where he raped and sexually assaulted her.

The crimes came to light when the girl's parent discovered incriminating messages on her phone and reported the matter to the authorities. During the police investigation, Sheilds admitted to online contact with the girl but denied the rape and sexual activity. He claimed he could not remember her age but acknowledged she was young and might have been in her school uniform during their meeting. Further examination of his devices uncovered images of the victim, internet searches related to her school, indecent images, and an indecent video.

At the time of the offences, Sheilds was on bail from Police Scotland with conditions prohibiting contact with anyone under 16. He pleaded guilty to the charges at Preston Crown Court on 16 July 2025. Sentencing occurred on 3 November 2025, where he received nine years' imprisonment plus an extended licence period of one year.

In a personal statement read in court, the victim described her shock upon meeting Sheilds, noting he appeared older than he had claimed, which made her fear for her safety and feel compelled to comply. Detective Sergeant Jenny Cobham of the Preston Child Protection Team described Sheilds as a 'despicable, perverted individual' who was fully aware of the victim's age yet chose to prey on her. She commended the victim's resilience and emphasised the commitment to pursuing justice in such cases.

The case was handled by Lancashire Constabulary, with prosecution led by the Crown Prosecution Service. This incident highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of parental vigilance in monitoring children's digital interactions.