Locations
Meadow Way, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15
Description
In June 2023, one of our officers promised a victim of sexual abuse that he would secure justice for her before she died.
Now, we have been able to fulfil that promise, when a man was jailed after being found guilty of non-recent sexual offences.
James Gibbs appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 22 May and was sentenced to four years in prison, after previously being found guilty of gross indecency offences.
An investigation by Essex Police’s Quest Team was launched in 2021, after a woman bravely reported that she had been sexually abused by Gibbs more than 40 years ago.
After facilitating early-stage interviews with the victim, Gibbs was arrested in February 2021 and later charged with two counts of gross indecency.
Gibbs pleaded not guilty to both offences.
The victim sadly passed away before the trial began but before she did, Detective Sergeant Ed Massey had seen her in a hospice and pledged to do his best to get justice for her.
DS Massey worked with the Crown Prosecution Service to push for the trial to go ahead, using a pre-recorded interview with the victim as evidence.
Following a trial, Gibbs, 73, of Meadow Way, Jaywick, was convicted in July 2024 of two counts of indecency.
He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 22 May and was sentenced to four years in prison, with two thirds to be served before he can be considered for release.
He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his access to children for the next ten years and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.
During sentencing, the judge paid tribute to the victim and praised her bravery in coming forward to report the matters.