Gary Moorhead, aged 61, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple historical offenses, including sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Moorhead was convicted by jurors in Newcastle Crown Court of crimes such as sexual intercourse with a child and indecent assault. The victim, who came forward with her story years later, described Moorhead as a deceptive and manipulative individual who posed as a respected member of the community while engaging in heinous acts of child molestation. Judge Penny Moreland emphasized that Moorhead had groomed his victim and presented a significant risk to children, noting that he had committed a series of abusive acts. Despite his previous positive reputation in the community, Moorhead’s true character was exposed during the trial. He has been placed on the sex offenders register and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order restricting his contact with children for life. The judge stated that Moorhead would have to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole, with the added requirement of one year on license upon release to ensure public safety. For updates, follow BBC North East on various social media platforms.
