Prolific sex offender jailed for rape of child and multiple sex offences against children

An 84-year-old man from Rochdale has been jailed for a number of sex offences against children.

Gerald Glancy pleaded guilty to fifteen offences including rape, sexual activity with a child and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Between October 2018 and June 2022 Glancy had been regularly engaging in sexualised conversations with children over web chats, which he then recorded.

During those conversations, he incited them to engage in sexual activity, whilst he himself engaged in a sexual act.

Glancy had also been abusing children in his home. Several devices were recovered by GMP from his address which contained still and moving photographs of Glancy engaging in sexual activity with children.

On Monday 15 February 2021, GMP attended Glancy’s home address and arrested him on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. Based on intelligence received relating to his phone number, a search of his property revealed a number of devices. These included four mobile telephone, five hard drives, five flash drives and two cameras, among others.

On interview, Glancy admitted the offences, and was therefore breaching a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). A later visit to Glancy’s address, on Wednesday 15 June 2022, based on intelligence received by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, revealed five unauthorised devices.

The court also heard about the horrific sexual abuse experienced by 24 young victims.

Thousands of indecent images were recovered involving children as young as one year old. No fewer than 12,000 were of the most serious category (category A), at least 13,000 category B images and no fewer than 22,000 category C images were recovered.

Whilst the forensic investigation into the devices found at his house was underway, Glancy continued to engage with children over the webchat and committed further offences.

Glancy admitted fifteen child sex offences and was sentenced to 14 years in prison with a one year extended licence, in addition to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order:

• Rape of a child under 13
• Sexual activity with child
• Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• Causing child to engage in sexual activity
• Causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Causing child to engage in sexual activity
• Causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Distributed indecent photographs of children
• Causing a child to watch a sexual act
• Taking indecent photographs of children (cat C)
• Sexual communication with a child
• Sexual communication with child
• Making indecent photographs of children (Cat A)
• Making indecent photographs of children (Cat B)
• Making indecent photographs of children (Cat C)

Alex Mann, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit said: "Glancy is a prolific sexual predator and a danger to children.

“It hasn’t been possible to identify all of Glancy’s victims. The abuse he subjected children to was sickening.

“He exploited their vulnerability without any thought to the impact his abuse may have on them.

“Working closely with Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were able to build a strong case against him. The weight of that evidence meant that Glancy had no choice but to plead guilty.”

DCI Suzanne Keenaghan of the Public Protection Governance Unit, said: “Firstly, we would like to commend the bravery of the victims and their families, in providing us with valuable support in this prosecution.

“We know it’s been an extremely harrowing time for them. Glancy is the worst kind of offender and we are pleased that this predator is no longer on the streets and will not be able to hurt children ever again.

“This case serves as a lesson to those who abuse children, in that if you choose to engage in activities of this kind, we will find you and we will lock you up.

“If there is anyone who is aware of the abuse of children, whether this be online or in person, we would urge you to get in touch with Greater Manchester Police. We will believe you and we will thoroughly investigate every claim.

“We can be contact via 101, through the Live Chat function on our website www.gmp.police.uk or information can be passed through the independent charity – Crimestoppers – anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“If something doesn’t feel right – report it.”