South Leicester man jailed for string of child sex offences

A man who incited two girls to engage in sexual activity has been jailed after being convicted of his crimes.

Gavin Macken was sentenced to a total of eight years’ imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (Monday 27 January).

On 3 December last year, 38-year-old Macken was found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity following a trial at the same court.

His offending began in 2018, when he incited one of his victims to pose for sexual photographs. He also sexually touched the other victim over a two-year period. The offences he committed were disclosed to police by both victims in 2020.

Macken, of Brookfield Rise, off The Fairway, was told by the judge that he abused his victims in a “gross and vile way”.

Gavin Macken

Detective Sergeant Catherine Smith was the investigating officer. She said: “Macken preyed on his victims at their most vulnerable times and took photographs for his own sexual gratification. He tried to incite one child to take photographs of the other, which ultimately led to them coming forward.

“When the allegations were put to him by police, Macken admitted to taking images of one girl’s ‘genitalia’ but ultimately denied the charges against him. At court he denied knowing what the word genitalia was and therefore pleaded not guilty, meaning that both girls had to give evidence.

“Macken stole their innocence, and their childhoods. Their lives have been paused during the five-month police investigation, and an almost five-year year wait for him to be sentenced for his crimes.

“No sentence can accurately reflect the pain that he has caused these girls and their families, but he has been brought to justice, and I hope that they can now begin to move forwards with the rest of their lives.”

• There are a number of different agencies who are able to offer independent help and support to victims of sexual offences in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
• Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences
• If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you can also contact Juniper Lodge – a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – by phoning 0116 273 3330 or visiting https://juniperlodge.org.uk/
• You can also find your nearest SARC by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health-services/find-a-rape-and-sexual-assault-referral-centre