Another much-loved County Antrim Sex Offender, Gary Thompson, who attempted to attribute blame to his victim and the media for “casting aspersions” against him, was convicted of several sexual assaults for the second time this week.
Judge Philip Gilpin not only dismissed Gary ‘the gimp’ Thompson’s appeal but also convicted the 43-year-old on three counts of sexual assault, increasing his sentence from nine to twelve months.
Incarcerating Gary Thompson at Antrim County Court, Judge Gilpin emphasised that the victim had been compelled to testify and endure cross-examination on two separate occasions.
The judge stated that, considering the context in which Gary Thompson had sexually attacked his victim three times, “it constituted, in a sense, a campaign…albeit of brief duration.”
He stated, however, that “one cannot disregard the reality that Mr Thompson has compelled the victim in this case to testify on two occasions, and this must be considered in the court’s sentencing.”
Judge Gilpin handed four-month penalties for each of the three offences, to be served consecutively.
During the initial hearing in the Magistrates’ Court last January, Gary Thompson, residing on Pinetree Grove in Antrim, was found guilty on all charges and subsequently received a nine-month sentence during the plea and sentencing in March.
The 43-year-old was released on bail while awaiting an appeal, and the de novo hearing occurred at the County Court last Tuesday.
During her testimony via live television link, the 27-year-old victim revealed to the judge that her initial contact with Gary Thompson transpired in March of the preceding year, at her apartment.
She recounted being in her upstairs room when she heard loud noises below. Upon investigating, she entered her living room, where Gary Thompson positioned himself against her, forcing her into the corner against the wall.
The court was informed that the defendant was attired solely in “a pink swimsuit and costume jewellery,” and the swimsuit was oversized, resulting in his genitals being fully exposed.
The victim recounted that speaking in a fake Scottish accent, Gary Thompson declared, “I’m your new daddy”, and he hugged her and was “grinding” against her, a hand groping over her bottom and breast, but she told him in no uncertain terms, “fuck off – you’re not my daddy.”
The court was informed that present in the room were Gary Thompson’s convicted murderer brother, David Thompson, and his fiancée, Natalie Curry.
Ms Curry said that she captured an image of Gary Thompson in the pink swimsuit, and while the circumstances initially appeared humorous, they escalated significantly when he touched the girl.
Three days later, the victim was in the kitchen when Gary Thompson embraced her, simultaneously groping her bottom and breast, mirroring the initial event.
The court was informed that the most recent incident occurred in the hospital following the urgent admission of the victim’s mother.
The victim informed Judge Gilpin that while her mother was “literally on her deathbed,” Gary Thompson feigned an embrace to inappropriately touch her once again.
Several months following her mother’s unfortunate demise, the victim notified the authorities.
Having documented convictions, he detained Gary Thompson and stated he would issue a punishment the following day.
On Wednesday, Judge Gilpin issued penalties amounting to 12 months, along with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and a five-year restraining order.
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