A Calderdale Paedophile, John Gaukroger, has been sentenced to prison for sexual offences against a minor committed over 40 years ago.
A jury convicted John Gaukroger of Halifax guilty of two charges of indecent assault against a single victim in the 1970s, and he was sentenced to more than two years in prison today.
The court heard about John Gaukroger’s plans to assist a children’s centre that provided afterschool care. During this time, dad would take the kids on camping outings.
The offences occurred between 1975 and 1976. The victim was under the age of ten when the acts occurred, and she came forward to police in 2020 to report them.
Calderdale’s Child Protection Unit initiated an investigation, which led to John Gaukroger’s arrest and further charges in May 2023.
Despite continuing to reject the allegations throughout a three-day trial at Bradford Crown Court, a jury convicted him guilty of the charges in May of this year.
John Gaukroger, who is now 91 years old, was sentenced to 26 months in prison and compelled to sign the Sex Offender Register.
He was also granted a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order by the Judge.
The following is an excerpt from the victim’s personal statement, which was read in court.
“These types of acts usually carry a stigma; I was afraid of what people would think of me and condemn me, so I haven’t informed anyone outside of my family. I was terrified, afraid that people would find out, and ashamed.
“Now that the investigation has concluded, the pressure has been relieved, and I believe I did the right thing by coming forward. I feel like I’ve come to grips with everything, and since the matter went to court, I’ve had some of the finest sleep I’ve ever had.
“Since filing the initial report and speaking out, I have not stopped thinking about this incident and what happened to me. I think about it from the time I get up till the moment I go to bed; it has had a significant impact on me, my family, and my relationships. I’m glad this is over, and now I can try to move on.”
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Vicky Lawrance of Calderdale District Police’s Child Protection Unit stated:
“First and foremost, I would want to applaud the victim in this case for coming forward and disclosing the abuse he experienced as a young child.
“John Gaukroger forced his victim to relive the heinous crimes he committed against them by subjecting them to the pain of a trial, and I am relieved for them that the jurors saw through his attempts to avoid responsibility for what he had done.
“It is possible that there are further victims who have suffered as a result of John Gaukroger’s activities, and we would like to hear from them.
“Irrelevant of the length of time passed, you will be listened to, supported and we will do all we can to fight for victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.