In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 37-year-old former cleaner Anthony Gearing was jailed for sending sexual messages to an individual he believed was a child. Gearing—of Littlehampton, West Sussex—was sentenced at Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child. It was reported that the investigation was launched following a sting operation where Gearing was intercepted engaging in “perverted” digital dialogue with a decoy profile.
The investigation established that Gearing had been held on remand since July 2018 leading up to his sentencing hearing. Crown Court heard that the 37-year-old used digital platforms to target what he thought was a vulnerable minor for sexual gratification. The prosecution reported that Gearing’s communications were explicit and calculated, demonstrating a clear intent to groom a child for sexual purposes despite the fact that the recipient was not actually a minor.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Gearing’s background as a cleaner gave him no excuse for his predatory online behaviour. Crown Court heard that he admitted the single count of sexual communication with a child at the earliest opportunity. The investigation established that the evidence against him included transcripts of the sexual messages sent from his devices, which formed the basis of the police case following his arrest in the summer of 2018.
Judge-led proceedings resulted in Gearing being handed an 18-month custodial sentence. For his actions in Littlehampton and West Sussex, he was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years. The judge noted that an immediate prison term was necessary to reflect the seriousness of his attempts to exploit a child, even though the target was a decoy, to serve as a deterrent against further online predation.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in West Sussex, the status of Anthony Gearing as of April 5, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED (Served 18-month term; sentenced 2018; released on licence circa 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements expired in 2023 (5-year term).
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order expired in 2023.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Sexual communication with a child; 1 count).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Crown Court; investigated by Sussex Police.
- Criminal Record: Sending explicit messages to a 2018 decoy profile; Targeting a child for sexual gratification; Remanded in custody for 4+ months.
- Origin: Littlehampton, West Sussex.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Gearing was managed as a registered sex offender within the Littlehampton area following his release from prison. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his use of the internet to initiate “perverted” contact—his management was a priority for the Sussex Police Public Protection Unit during his five-year supervision period. Authorities state that while his notification requirements have now expired, his permanent inclusion on the DBS Barring List ensures he can never legally work with children in West Sussex or elsewhere.
As a convicted sex offender, Gearing’s details were logged on the national police database for the duration of his SHPO. Authorities state that his 2018 conviction followed a period on remand, which the judge took into account during the final sentencing. While he has completed his court-ordered supervision, any further reports of suspicious online behaviour or attempts to contact minors in Littlehampton will result in immediate police scrutiny to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a demonstrated pattern of digital grooming.
QUESTION – Given that the offender targeted a decoy profile and received an 18-month sentence, do you believe that “Sting Operation Convictions” should carry the same mandatory minimum sentences as cases involving real-life victims to ensure the deterrent is equally strong?
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