In 2020, the Offender Database reported that Gary McStein, then 58, most recently of Wendron, near Helston, Cornwall, was sentenced to six years in prison. On Friday, 24 July 2020, McStein appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault against a child.
The investigation established that McStein abused a girl under the age of 13 more than 20 years ago. The prosecution reported that he “viciously” touched the child’s genitals, often while pleasuring himself at the same time. McStein had lived a nomadic existence, travelling across the UK, France, and Spain in horse-drawn wagons with his family, before eventually settling in Cornwall. He admitted to police during his interview, “I think it’s all true, yeah,” and later pleaded guilty to the “vile” charges.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Robert Linford emphasised that McStein’s behaviour “ripped a woman’s childhood apart” due to his “selfish desire for sexual gratification.” The court reported that McStein was under the influence of cannabis at the time of the abuse. In a victim impact statement, the survivor emphasised the “despicable” long-term consequences of the attacks, revealing she suffers from nightmares, anxiety, and a total lack of trust in men, which has led to five failed relationships.
The defence emphasised that McStein was “genuinely remorseful” and worked as a househusband and furniture maker in Wendron. However, the judge emphasised that while McStein “just got on” with his life, the victim had to endure decades of trauma. For his crimes in Cornwall, the court determined that a six-year custodial term was necessary to reflect the “vile” destruction of the victim’s entitlement to be happy.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Gary McStein was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Six years in immediate custody.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to restrict his future conduct.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Pled guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 13.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McStein is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon & Cornwall Police and the prison estate. Due to the “vicious” nature of his offences and his previous nomadic lifestyle, his management remains under high-level scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, McStein must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Wendron, Helston. Authorities state that his SHPO is a critical tool to ensure he is strictly monitored and prevented from posing further “vile” risks to children. Any breach of his registration conditions, his court order, or his licence terms upon release will result in his immediate arrest and return to Truro Crown Court.
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